Blogger has been acting up for me lately so every time I sit down to write I get a bit discouraged, and quickly move onto something else.  It seems to be working now, so a quick, uninspired, post about what we're up to....eventually I'll have something more interesting to say, and hopefully Blogger will cooperate then too.

Its been a month of whirlwind weather from 20 inches and below freezing for a week or so, to 50 degrees and torrential rains.  This morning we awoke to 3 fluffy inches of fresh white, with a flurry of 5-6 more sticky heavy inches today.  Its looking like winter again. Hopefully there's enough of a cushion for a ski later this week.

Wylie has begun what I like to refer to as his "social experiment":  public school.  I'll say this was not something I was voting for, and it isn't something I'm particularly enjoying, but I can see some learning experiences that will come of it.  At this point I'd be surprised if he expressed an interest in attending longer than our agreed upon length.  If he does we'll have to figure out the best choice for our family in approaching his schooling next fall.

I think I've written a bit before in this space about my struggle as a mother of older children, to include their intuition when making decisions.  I've always based big parenting decisions on my gut instinct--which so far I feel, has been successful.   But now that the kids aren't babies or toddlers, their own gut feelings must necessarily weigh in on decisions pertaining to them.  For Wylie's school situation that meant respecting his curiosity and desire to see how the majority of his peers spend their days.  So, even though it wasn't our first choice, even though it still isn't sitting right with me, we're rolling with it.  Trusting that his experiences homeschooling and being part of a respectful family and social group will allow him to approach this new experience with an objective slant, taking what he needs and leaving the rest.

At home things are a bit more mellow with just the two kids most days.  We're back into the swing of things school wise, back into lessons, meetings etc.  The long holiday stretch is so lovely and necessary, but It feels good to be on a schedule again too.

Pics:
*books by flashlight
* chess with cousins
*giant icicles after the ice storm
*snow play
* carols with friends
*Fowler Holiday Favorite Lights awards--delivered to 4 deserving families in the Belfast area
* Icy weather vane
* rockin' snow suit

Merry Christmas!

After 5 days of snow, rain, ice, ice, more ice, and grey skies the sun rose for us this Christmas Day.  It was nothing short of spectacular.  The kids are all still nursing fevers and cough, but I sneaked out for a few minutes of breath taking beauty (and fresh air).    Despite their illness it has been a low key, sweet kind of holiday with no one too sick to play a bit and eat too much sugar.  

We are of the fortunate few who lost power for only a day, while many of our relatives and neighbors are without power going on 4 days now.  It has been a hard, cold holiday for many in our area.  We feel fortunate to be enjoying the beauty of the ice from a warm home, with all of the conveniences of electricity.  Hope you are keeping warm where ever you are.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

   Merry Christmas! 

Happy Solstice!

Here's to a very merry holiday, may the light find you where ever you're celebrating.  Happy Solstice!

 

 

Snow

Those snowflakes on the window did the trick, and last week we went from 4 inches to 20 or so in a few short days.  We've been sledding and X-country skiing, appreciating this fluffy snow before it ices up or melts away.  For a week it was cold, cold, here, negative numbers well after sun up for a day or two.  Now that we're back to double digits 30 degrees feels downright comfortable.  But when its cloudy like today I really feel the low light.  Like an all day dusk we just can't seem to shake.  Only two more days, then we're on the up.  Those Pageans really knew what they were doing celebrating with light and festivals to tide through these dark days--and those Christians really knew what they were doing when they claimed this time for their most special of days.  I'm feeling grateful to all the faiths for the lights, song, and celebration that gets us through this month.   Mostly though, we grateful for snowsuits, mittens, boots, skis, snowshoes, sleds and snow, plus healthy bodies to carry us through and across it.  

Today we're cleaning and baking and setting up a bonfire, in preparation for far too many people to squeeze into our space come evening.  It is sure to be a crowded, chaotic mix of fun, good food, drink and joy. 

Merry Merry!  

 

 

 

Its never boring...

This holiday season so far has been busy for sure, but not overwhelming.  We've seen a concert, and a play, a holiday movie night, and a grown up party.  But mostly its the little advent activities that we're doing as a family each day that are helping to keep it simple and sweet.  The other night Juniper said, Its never boring waiting for Christmas, because there's always so many fun things to be doing".  I'll take that as a sign that we're on the right track, and  hope that as the years progress the days before Christmas become the real treasure instead of a wait.  

A few of the treasures so far:

* woods walk to gather pine cones

* decorate the seasonal table 

* Christmas for the birds

* gathering greens

* wreath making

* decorating the porch

 

 

  

 

Advent

Well, its begun.  This hectic, festive season of crafting and giving, baking and eating, and generally making merry.  Our family is not particularly religious, and we celebrate the Winter Solstice as well as Christmas as a time for giving, for bringing light into the darkest days of winter, and for creating joy for those we love.  Advent is an extension of that, and it allows us as parents to place more emphasis on giving and celebrating together as a family, than on shopping.  

That said, our annual advent activities haven't always gone off as imagined (I'm not sure we've had a lantern walk yet without tears) and it seems like throughout the month activities get swapped from day to day, or forgotten altogether in the busyness of our days.  I'm sure those things will still happen, but this year I've worked a bit harder to ensure that the activities are fun and not a challenge to our schedule.  First, I removed the activities that no one seemed excited about (I'm still committed to the Lantern walk).  And, I planned well--even consulting Rob's and my calendars before placing the activities for each day (this is huge for me). Finally, I kept a master list of what went where, so that I could consult it weekly to see if any supplies might be needed so I could, for example, buy stuff to make gingerbread houses before the morning comes that we're supposed to make them (imagine!)  I also gave myself a break, and decided to give candy on a couple of our busiest days.  

Merry making, lights, sugar, concerts, parties, bring it on.  We're ready to celebrate.  These dark days sure could use some light.  

  Pre-advent late night planning:  calendar, Gordon Bach, hot buttered run, chocolate chip cookies.  

November Days

This morning we awoke to the first snow of the season.  It was met with the expected first snow glee--requiring an underwear dance on the deck (a little tradition I began in college) and a snow-suited foray into the semi-dark morning.  The mitten situation shed a bit of reality on the season to come (has there ever been a 4 year old who enjoys mittens?) but I was doing my best to persevere with my joy.   As I get older I have been appreciating more and more the differences of each season, and very much so the subtle beauty of the starkness of early winter.  The simple act of fetching wood from the porch inspires a photograph.   

November is raw, but real.  She's hiding nothing.  

The snow quietly settling on the frozen grass and the wood stove sparking to life was calling me to stay home for a quiet day.  But, today is Tuesday.  Which means homeschool coop--a raucous, wonderful crowd of nearly 100! homeschoolers (including parents and babies) packed into our rental space for the better part of the day, which we divide into 3 sessions with several classes each session.  It is amazing, sometimes exhilarating, and always exhausting.  My quiet day didn't happen.  Of course the kids had a great time rolling in the snow down Belfast Common, snow ball fighting, and eating snow with their friends (never mind all of the crafting, physics, ecology, research, and space studies going on).  The playdate extended into the afternoon, as friends joined us at home, and sleds were pulled from the barn rafters and hauled around the dark yard by headlamp.  

Its all good, and seems to be the way of November.  Crammed between Halloween and Thanksgiving, the time of year when all things non-holiday get scheduled, and pre-holiday preparations are already in the works.  Early last week Rob and I didn't see each other at all for more than 10 minutes (discounting sleep) over a stretch of 3 days.  As a family we've been soaking up bits of quiet time whenever the opportunity arises:  late morning solo art projects before swim, quick games of cards after lunch,  late afternoon tree sitting just for quiet (she even took her nature journal up there--love that!) projects on the brain that beg to be squeezed in between errands and lessons (Juniper's honey drops--a recipe she made herself and gifted to her piano teacher); sand play indoors, and yes, a bit of school work as well.  Lately our schedule has been loose, but good, with many late afternoon impromptu reading sessions or math work, and early morning risers who get right to work on their own, self created reading, writing and film projects.  Despite my attempts at direction we seem to be dispersing at low tide, heading about our personal explorations.  Its all busy and sweet and good.