I Love to Write

I really really do. Sometimes I can't think of a way to coherently tie my thoughts together, so I avoid putting pen to paper..... or fingers to keyboard...... but not today. Today, I want to write. So I will.

It is Friday. It is late winter but already you can smell that spring isn't far away. The coming weeks will bring warmer weather and longer days. I'm looking forward to that. This has been a COLD winter - and this is a very very cold house. My next door neighbour Stan, a darling 90-something year old man who lives alone ("my wife died 4 years ago dearie" he told me through teary eyes the first time we spoke at the fence) tells me he has lived in very cold places in his life, and this winter Maryborough has been as cold as any of them. He is right. Spring can't come soon enough. These houses are built for summer's heat, not winter's chill.

This morning I determined when I woke up that I wasn't doing anything until I had finished reading Water for Elephants. I had planned to read yesterday but ended up having a friend visit in the afternoon and stay through until late last night. We managed to watch "Once" and "Julie and Julia" - both fantastic movies by the way! Julie and Julia is a must see if you're a blogger. ;)

So.... I read. I read and read and read. I ate some porridge and had my coffee..... 10am came around and still I read. I finished it about 10:30 - it was so wonderful, read it please!!

I got dressed and went for a blissfully uneventful bike ride round the park. I say uneventful because yesterday's ride was erm.... not. One of the pedals happened to fly off when I was half-way round the track. Thankfully I didn't topple or hurt myself (which would have been a typically me thing to do.... still, the pedal is close enough) - but as I rooted around in the grass looking for the lost pedal two pristine-looking joggers in their "proper" running gear jogged past me. "Ha, I'm ... I'm.... just having issues with my pedal" I stammered quietly as they glanced at me. They didn't reply.

Half an hour later I was home, having unsuccessfully tried to reattach the pedal and failed (you need a spanner or wrench or something - neither of which I own and certainly didn't have with me on my morning ride) so I walked the bike home, pedal in one hand, broken bike in the other.

A friend reattached it for me last night while I was teaching a singing student. And so this morning I was thankful to make it all the way round the riding track, and home again, uneventfully. It's a beautiful day outside.

Since then I have tackled some housework, begun my next book (Ahn Do's memoir "The Happiest Refuge" - he's an Aussie comedian and the book is highly recommended), baked a dozen raspberry and choc chip and a dozen apple and cinnamon muffins for the kids' lunch boxes next week, and tidied up the front garden beds a bit. They have flowers, strawberries and herbs planted in them, but they're not mulched so I'm having to pinch the weeds and grass out of them fairly often. Picked a bunch of petunias and daisies for the dining room table.

I then looked up the 2002 blog of Julie Powell which inspired the film Julie and Julia. It's fascinating! Wish I had time to read the whole thing - all 365 entries. :-)

And now..... well, I'm here, writing. Did I mention I love to write? If I could find someone to pay me to stay home and write all day long I'd be supremely happy. So long as I could break free and (be paid to) sing on stage every so often. Sounds perfect to me - any offers?

Alas, it is time to go fold the mount everest washing pile in my bedroom. Then a walk. Then roast a chicken and make a salad for dinner. Then coffee with my dear friend Petrina tonight.

Thanks for listening!

Oh Dear...

... I have failed at regular blogging yet again.

Life continues on as always.

The children wake, I feed them, organise their uniforms and lunch boxes, take them to school, spend the day with William, pick up the children, feed them, help them with homework, readers, organise pyjamas, bath them, feed them .... I think you get the idea.

And of course there is the laundry and the grocery shopping and the meal planning and the appointments and just the things of life which soak up time.

And so blogging falls by the wayside, again. Forgive me?

In my *spare* time, I have been exercising rather a lot - walking from home to the lagoon / walking track nearby, walking the track, then walking home again. Every day in fact. And I just purchased a second hand bike so will be riding that a few days a week as well. William and I often walk to town too, to the shops or library or the bank. He always claims he will "walk please Mama, the whole way there" - then proceed to 'get tired' after 3 minutes. I always take the stroller for that reason. Never go on the word of the toddler. ;) After my gallant effort exercising pre- Music Man, I have gained a few kilos again. I'm determined to lose them!

Also, I have been reading. Have you heard of Mireille Guiliano? She wrote the popular "French Women don't get Fat", which I thoroughly enjoyed some months ago. I just read her third book, "Women, Work and the art of Savoir Faire", which I would also recommend. Then came "Oranges are not the only fruit" - a rather controversial novel which I wouldn't really recommend but did captivate me for the 24 hours during which I read it. I am now reading "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen, having seen the film a few months back. It is a wonderful book, highly recommended. :)

So begins my "weekend" tomorrow (Thursday), as the children spend the next two days with their Papa. I have plans to walk to town to market shop for fruit and veggies, do some cooking, laundry, teach four music students, have coffee with a friend Friday night, clean the house, take some walks and bike rides...... and read. And probably tackle some (much needed) piano and singing practice as well. All these things are good things, things I look forward to doing, and things which will distract me from missing my babies while they are gone. Most of all I look forward to Saturday morning when they'll come home again.

What are you up to this week? What are you reading?

Op Shop Bliss

So much going on in my little world, but for now let me share this morning's op shop finds. :) With school holidays coming up next week, I was thrilled to find a whole table of half price children's books - and when the books are only 50c or $1.00 to begin with, that's pretty wonderful!

Miss Saraya and the school librarian are practically best friends these days, she visits so often. And she's practically read every suitable junior fiction book in the town library. Sigh.

This pile should keep her busy for a little while anyhow.

And skirts! Two gorgeous long skirts for Saraya, and a long denim skirt for me - something I've always wanted actually. Total spent for skirts and books - $12. Happy dance!

Another Favourite

As always with this novel, I was reluctant to come to the end of it.

17th Century Holland.

An Artist.

A maid.

The classes, the colours, the bitter winter cold.

A fabulous story, aptly told, a world from which I never wanted to escape.

Highly Recommended.

Note: For some, there may be parts which are offensive to read. Nothing dreadful, but still I thought I should mention it. Some "adult themes", I guess. Very subtle, but they're there. This is one author's interpretation of a fictitious story behind Vermeer's fine painting, Girl With a Pearl Earring.

Some Books to Share

I recently finished reading my novel from under the Christmas Tree, "The Distant Hours" by Australian author Kate Morton.

"I've lived in this book for the last three days. Every time I've put it down, I've done so with regret; regret that I couldn't read more, regret that the world I'm living in is not the world portrayed in the book. This story appealed to me on so many levels, from taking influences from books such as Jane Eyre, Rebecca and Wuthering Heights to providing drama on such a perfectly, laid out scale.

..and honestly, how can you go wrong with a story centered around a crazy old man and his daughters, with quirky names suchas Persephone, Seraphina and Juniper?

I've struggled with how to write this review and not reveal anything - and it is a struggle because all I want to do is talk about the story. This was not a light, comfort read - but I don't turn to Kate Morton for that sort of read. I picked this tome up.. (and at nearly 700 pages, it's a doozy) expecting an interesting book with well-developed characters. What I got was the following:

- Well developed characters, I particularly loved the evolving relationship between one of the main characters, Edie, and her parents.

- A perfect setting. Morton did a beautiful job of describing the castle - decaying it was.. and I could practically smell the mold, hear the leaves crunching and see the bathing pool as she describes it.

- A haunting mystery. I actually was disappointed about halfway through the book because I knew I had it all figured out. Did I? Well... you tell me once you've read the book.. did YOU?

- The "Chill Factor". I got chills so many times while reading this book I lost count. Also, I didn't sleep the first night with my light off after reading the opening of the book. I get spooked easily.. and this book qualifies as "spooky" - much like Jane Eyre does.

The Distant Hours is, simply put, fantastic. One of the best books I've read this year and my battered ARC can testify to how much handling it has had over the past few days. I liked Kate Morton after The Forgotten Garden, but The Distant Hours has made me a firm fan and I can't wait to see what she writes next."by Lydia Presley

I found this review and thought I would include it as it sums up exactly how I feel about this wonderful book. It's a big read - it took me a full month to get through it - but it is worth every page. "The Forgotten Garden" is still my favourite of Kate's novels, but this one comes close. ;) And any nearby friends are welcome to borrow my copy if you like!______________________________________
Saraya too had a great month of reading in January. I admit I was a little concerned her reading would slow down once she started attending school, but to my relief it hasn't. Her teacher includes a half hour of quiet independent reading time every afternoon at school, so she gets a good few chapters in then. :) And once home, it isn't long before she has a book in her hands again. In bed at night she gets another half hour to read, and she often reads in bed before rising for the day as well. Plenty of time!
People ask me all the time for book recommendations for their similarly aged children (you guys all know I'm pretty picky!), so I'll share the list of books Saraya read last month. Sorry I didn't include all the authors in my list - just google them or check your local library if you want to track them down.
The Boxcar Children books, numbers 10 and 11
Susan Leads the Way
Ten Girls Who Made History (which she read twice, she loved it! - a great non-fiction book)
Stories For You by Enid Blyton (again, she read this twice)
Stories to Remember (a book of short stories, would be great for boys too)
Raggedy Ann and Andy Treasury
Mary Poppins
The Careless Astronaut (another book of short stories)
Dream Team Mission 1 : Flying Solo
The Adventures of Pip by Enid Blyton
The Thief in the Library
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Understood Betsy (excellent, though very tiny font!)
The Adventures of Pinnochio
Laura Ingalls Christmas Stories
The Enchanted Wood by E Blyton
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (contemporary fiction, amazing book, I had to read it myself it looked SO interesting - it's the journey of a china rabbit)
The Book of Fairies by E Blyton
Tomboy Terry
Children of Cherry Tree Farm by E Blyton
More Adventures on Willow Farm by E Blyton
A doozy of a list, I know!! As you can see, she went on an Enid Blyton spree this month. ;) We found a few in the library she hadn't read, as well as a couple in a second hand book store.
Saraya is doing much better settling at school in the mornings - I am leaving her with her Papa in the morning as he works there in Prep, and he walks her over to her classroom - and she has discovered the School Library. More Enid Blyton than you can poke a stick at!! So that has made her very happy. Her reading level was ascertained last week, and she's on Level 30, the highest level possible (which hasn't exactly surprised me) - but the great thing is this means she gets to chose a lot of her own reading material, and her teacher is really encouraging this aspect of her education.
I'm happy this week. :) We are madly rehearsing and learning lines around here, and there are books and smiling children.......... and well, it's a happy home.
Blessings friends!

My Twin Readers

After performing in the Eisteddfod last year, Saraya received a copy of the book "Mary Poppins" as an encouragement from Nanna. She received a second copy for her birthday from a friend, which she decided to gift to Stuart for Christmas as she knew he had never read it. :) I thought it was such a sweet idea.

Today I walked into the living room to find this...

Twin readers! Stuart reading it for the first time and Saraya reading it for the third. ;)

And yes, Saraya did get her hair cut this week. All the way up to her shoulders. Her long golden curls are now short golden curls.

It's a fresh change for a new year.

Wonderful, Wonderful Books!

• The written word teaches, it takes us on great adventures, it inspires, blesses, encourages and challenges us. Throughout last year I read some wonderful books. I've been adding them to a list on my sidebar throughout the year, and before deleting it and starting a new one, I thought I'd post it to my blog. Let me know if there are any titles you're interested in, would like a review on, or would like to know more about! Oh, and Happy New Year everyone! Christmas and holiday posts / photos coming up!
• 
  
• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
• Simple Secrets to a Beautiful Home by Emilie Barnes
• Bookends by Liz Curtis Higgs
• The Shack by William P. Young
• Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott
• Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott
• The Diary of Anne Frank
• Simplifying Parenting by Kim John Payne
• Atonement by Ian McEwan
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
• Embrace Grace by Liz Curtis Higgs
• Dancing With My Father by Sally Clarkson
• Teaching Montessori in the Home by Elizabeth G. Hainstock
• Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs
• Grace in Thine Eyes by Liz Curtis Higgs
• Outdoor Kids - A Practical Guide for Kids in the Garden by Jamie Durie
• More About Rebecca by Kate Douglas Wiggin
• Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin
• Kilmeny of the Orchard by L.M.Montgomery
• One Million Arrows by Julie Ferwerda
• Mitten Strings for God by Katrina Kenison
• The Secret History by Donna Tartt
• Beatrix Potter - A Life in Nature by Linda Lear
• Sharing Nature with Children by Joseph Cornell
• The Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola
• Lessons at Blackberry Inn by Karen Andreola
• Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
• The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
• Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Another Delightful Story

Thankfully 3 or 4 days after visiting the library, Saraya always finishes her newest stash of Famous Five and Secret Seven mysteries, and goes looking for something else to read. :) A few days ago she plucked this delight from our shelves.....

...... and after being absorbed in it's pages in every spare moment this week, she finished it this morning. She doesn't recall being read this book by Papa when she was only four, so the story was new to her.

She loved Polly. And Ben. Actually, she loved them all.

Thank heavens for books!

Off I Go...

Well, today's the day. I'm off to the big city to see a heart doctor (actually he's a professor!) and hoping, hoping, praying, praying for wisdom for him as he evaluates and treats my problem. I don't really know what to expect today, and must admit I'm a little scared. I also find it tricky navigating city roads after living here in our little town for the last 8 1/2 years! If you find a moment to pray for me today, I would so appreciate it.

Big thanks to my sweet friend Petrina for helping me out with the children while I am gone. I'll be back tomorrow morning, but I could NOT have done this trip without her!

Birthday plans are well under way for this weekend / early next week. Saraya is SOOOO excited to be turning 8! I don't think Stuart is quite as excited about turning 32. ;) It gets like that as you get older, doesn't it?

We've managed to fit in quite a lot this week. Saraya has been busy with her contract sheet - and praise God, it's working much better! She has 2 activities left to do tomorrow. I'm really proud of her. The kids had haircuts yesterday morning. And the kittens had their operations - they are in recovery today, feeling very sore and sorry for themselves. We're looking forward to them feeling better. We also found a house we really love.... but more about that later.

I'll leave you with some photos from our week this week. Hope everyone has a blessed Thursday. :)

Both Saraya and Elijah sewed little pouches to keep their money in.

We got our boxes packed and sent off for the Operation Christmas Child program.

And Saraya's been reading. You know, a LOT. These 5 books were chewed through just 6 days. Then she was crying because she didn't have anything to read!! We found a book for that night, but were off to the library again the following day and managed to find "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator" and some more Famous Five books. Boy oh boy does she love to read!

Books To Read

As you know, Saraya has lately become an avid reader. She and I sorted out our children's classics bookcase this morning into piles - what she's read, what she wants to read next, and what she will read when she's older.

We did this because she just exhausted the pile our friend Jane loaned us (thanks Jane!), and the other books I recently purchased for her. I thought I'd share the titles Saraya has enjoyed these past few weeks so you can share them with your own little people!

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The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner (I am slowly collecting these; I think Saraya has read about 10 titles so far)

Little Pear by Eleanor Francis Lattimore

"B" is for Betsy by Carolyn Haywood

The Boy with the Green Thumb by Barbara Euphan Todd

Hello, Mrs Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald

The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson

The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton (we borrowed 2 of these from the library last week, and Saraya loved them)

The Secret Seven series by Enid Blyton (same as above!)

Daughter of the Mountains by Louise Rankin

Elmer and the Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

The Dragons of Blueland by Ruth Stiles Gannett

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary

The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh

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I'm sorry I haven't included links - I just don't have time! Please check your local library or the ever-faithful Book Depository.

See this post too for other books Saraya has enjoyed, and this post for other books we would recommend - many were read-alouds in our family.

Today I am reading The Diary of Anne Frank, and Saraya is reading The Pied Piper of Hamlin. We will read a chapter of The Secret Garden later, and no doubt the little boys will by flicking through the pages of Dr Seuss or Curious George!

What's in your lap this week?

Seasons

I am a firm believer in our lives having seasons. You know, waves. Ebbs and flows.

Right now, I'm in a funny sort of season. I'm not quite myself. My priorities and goals and ideals are no different, yet my vision is a bit out of focus. My lens is a little misty. Yet, I'm not worried by this. I know the wave will shift, the breeze will blow, the lens will become clear again.

I would describe this season as being quite introverted. A shade of blue. I'm thinking a lot. My sleeping and eating patterns are all out of whack. I can't think of what to cook. I am exhausted but cannot sleep. I'm going through the motions, but my heart is not quite here. Where it is.... I'm not sure. It's just distant. Thoughtful. Perhaps gone into some form of self-preservation mode?

I apologise for having no photos to share! I don't even really feel like taking photos this week. Life has been fairly mundane (which I don't mind... I need the down time), and not really photo-worthy. But I'm sure I'll be my snap-happy self again soon. :) The children are all doing well.

I have been thinking a great deal about how to avoid burn-out lately. Why? Because.... I have been feeling some signs within myself and I'm striving to prevent them going further. Reading and seeking lots. This post is excellent.

I have been reading some great books. Just finished "Dancing With My Father" by Sally Clarkson, which was excellent. I am also in the middle of "Embrace Grace" by Liz Curtis Higgs. These are two of my favourite Christian authors, ladies who have so so so much wisdom to share. And Liz is so funny! :D It's good to laugh. The book is all about healing past pain, embracing God's grace and believing we are forgiven and whole and loved, just as we are. I am also re-reading Wuthering Heights, just for pleasure. :) It is wonderful.

And so life goes. Quiet right now, for me. Well, busy on the outside but quiet within. Dreaming and wondering and processing and praying.

Hope everyone is having a restful weekend.

I Can't Keep Up!

It's true. Her appetite is practically insatiable.

3 weeks ago, she picked up her first chapter book. And her independently-read list now consists of:

The Boxcar Children #1

The Boxcar Children #2

The Little Missionaries

The Wishing Chair

Snugglepot and Cuddlepie

and

Christie's Old Organ

All these books have been fairly lengthy, at least 150 pages each. And some of them she's read in 24 hours. She reads in the bedroom. She reads in the loungeroom. She reads in the trees. She reads in the bathroom. She literally keeps reading while she takes out the rubbish, book in one hand, rubbish bag in the other. She reads while you brush her teeth!!

Am I complaining? No! This girl is a busy little girl. Always playing, always moving, always creating, pulling out craft stuff, wanting to cook, wanting to make, etc. etc. etc. Reading is something she can do all by herself, and she's sitting still, and doesn't need help, and it doesn't make a mess. Ahhhh. :) Bliss.

Only thing is, she's wanting to read the third book in the Boxcar Children series - and I need to either find it in the library or purchase it from the Book Depository for $5.04 - in either case, she'll need to wait a few days. So instead today (after whinging that she didn't have a new book to read) she's pulled out The Rainy Day Book (things to do when there's nothing to do type book) and is now constructing a giant cubby on the verandah. With sheets, pegs, indoor chairs, outdoor chairs... and Stu's help because it simply wasn't working!!!!! Yep, that's what happens when I can't keep up. :) Not that I'm really complaining. She's a great kid. She's just so so so busy.

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Just wanted to mention we had a lovely day yesterday. Definitely a golden day!!!

I taught my first two piano students in the morning, and both were successful. Enthusiastic boys who actually learnt far more than I anticipated in a half hour lesson. I'm really excited about this. Something I am doing outside of mothering / homemaking, and even earning us some money too. I'm hoping to end up with 4 or 5 students, just keeping it to Saturday mornings.

Stuart worked on report cards at work for the entire afternoon/evening. And the children and I shared that time with Kate, at her place. A win-win-win situation! We picnicked and talked and played and the children climbed the same giant climbing tree that she climbed when she was a little girl. :) Another friend arrived with her 3 children, and we had a regular playgroup! So nice to sit in the sun and just hang out together. Later I bathed the children in Kate's lovely claw-foot bath (they were stoked!!!) and we all ate dinner before we left to pick Stu up just after 8pm. Poor man. Fancy spending 8 hours on a Saturday, working on report cards. I just feel blessed to have a friend to share all that alone-mothering time with. We all had a great day.

And today, Sunday. Pyjamas and dressing gowns and slippers. Worship music playing. Pancakes. The paper open on the table. Coffee about to be brewed. :) And kids constructing cubbies.

And tomorrow's a public holiday!

Things are looking up. :) Happy weekend everyone.

Recommended Books for Young Children

Amanda recently asked me to write a list of chapter books I would recommend for a six year old. This is difficult, as all six year olds are different in their interests and level of comprehension when it comes to reading. But I still wanted to help, as reading is a passion in our household!

So instead I decided to list all the chapter books we have read to the children over the last 5 years, and tell you a little about them. I don't think I've forgotten any, but there may have been others. Reading aloud as a family is a wonderful time of closeness, and creates memories and interests and adventure and creativity during free play times too. I have always been very careful about the books I read to my children, starting with pictures books from the library. Introducing concepts too early, encouraging some negative behaviours, or just downright scaring a child can happen easily if we're not careful! We read the children a lot of classics, and of course many, many picture books each day too. It's a big part of life and learning. :) Anyway, here goes.....

I read this one to the older two children when they were 5 and 3. It was a nice simple story. I'm sure the first one is as well!

Well, Saraya scoured the bookcase just this morning and chose The Wishing Chair. I did love Enid Blyton as a child.... wasn't quite sure if I she was ready for this one, but she's half-way through it already and loving it! I found her and Elijah sitting up in the orchard this afternoon on a rug, and Saraya was reading to him. Made me happy. :)

Poor mixed up Amelia Bedelia had us all laughing when we read a few books in this series. A friend loaned them to Saraya when she was just starting to read independently at age 6. These are great books for early readers, and are nice safe stories which get your kids laughing!

Leaving Anne of Green Gables until the children are older, The Story Girl (also by L.M. Montgomery) seemed a more age-appropriate read for them last year. Still, I think we skipped a chapter or two.

For poetry, I would recommend both of these titles. A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson is a classic. We have a large illustrated version and the children all love it.

Now We Are Six is a little collection of poetry by A.A.Milne, the author of the Winnie the Pooh books. Simple, beautiful poetry for little ones. Lots of good verses to memorize in here too!

We only have half of these precious books, but have borrowed the others from the library! Not chapter books, but charming stories in 'old English' that will challenge and inspire young readers.

We are currently reading this one. Elijah is almost 5, and this is his favourite read-aloud so far.

We will read The House at Pooh Corner next. (And after that, Narnia, yay!!!)

A beautiful book of Christian short stories. I read this one to all the children last year, and Saraya read it on her own again earlier this week. Full of moral lessons, it's great!

Heidi by Johanna Spiri was a little challenging for Saraya when we read it - I think she was only 3. :P I plan to offer it as an independent book for her later this year.

Saraya read Book #1 in the Boxcar Children series last week, and LOVED it. There are 19 titles in the series by the original author, and I'll encourage her to read all of them. This would make a great read-aloud for any child 4 and up.

Stuart read Little Men to Saraya when she was 4, and I have just read it again to her and Elijah this year. It is absolute gold. :D I'm leaving the other books by Louisa May Alcott for when the children are older.

We worked through the Little House on the Prairie series when Saraya was 5-6 years old.

They are all absolutely wonderful! My favourite was Farmer Boy.

One of the children pulled Alice In Wonderland off our bookcase last year, and loved the illustrations in it. Of course then they requested it to be read to them. I did read it to them, but some parts were a bit confusing for them. Probably better for 7-8 year olds.

Stuart read Danny, The Champion of the World to Saraya when she was tiny. I think they both really enjoyed it! It's the only Roald Dahl book the children have read so far, but they have listened to James and the Giant Peach on audio CD.

And last but not least, Charlotte's Web. :) This was the very first chapter book we read to Saraya - she was 3 1/2 years old at the time and really enjoyed it.

So there you go. I hope this was helpful! We have read other titles which I haven't included as I wouldn't necessarily recommend them. Five Little Peppers and How They Grew is one we read half of a couple of years ago..... up to the part where one of the children is stolen by a bad man! The story was getting too intense and disturbing for our little ones at that point, so we stopped reading it. We also read The Wizard of Oz last year, purely because Stu and Saraya were in the musical and we were all interested in reading the original story. It was fine, just not generally recommended reading for under 8's.

"If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it

at all". Oscar Wilde

Just Wanted to Share

Saraya is reading her first chapter book independently!! She hasn't shown interest in doing so until today, when she picked up a copy of The Boxcar Children. We have read countless chapter books together, but this afternoon she began her own reading adventure. The tale of four orphaned siblings making their way in the world, all alone, captured her imagination! She is stopping every few pages to look up, breathless, and share all the details with me.

Baths out of the way, she was at it again. 5 chapters in and very excited!! I pray this is the beginning of a great love of reading. :D

Words We Love

""So this is my new boy? I am glad to see you, my dear, and hope you'll be happy here," said the lady, drawing him to her, and stroking back the hair from his forehead with a kind hand and a motherly look, which made Nat's lonely little heart yearn toward her."

"But after the evening talk was done, the evening song sung, and the house grew still with beautiful Sunday silence, Dan lay awake in his pleasant room, thinking new thoughts, feeling new hopes and desires stirring in his boyish heart, for two good angels had entered in: love and gratitude began the work which time and effort were to finish".

"Words could not express how pleased and touched Dan was by this confidence and praise. No one had ever trusted him before, no one had cared to find out and foster the good in him, no one had suspected how much there was hidden away in the breast of the neglected boy, going fast to ruin, yet quick to feel and value sympathy and help".

"Could I see anybody's soul with this microscope if I looked hard?" asked Demi, who was much impressed with the power of the bit of glass.

"No dear; it's not powerful enough for that, and never can be made so. You must wait a long while before your eyes are clear enough to see the most invisible of God's wonders. But looking at the lovely things you can see will help you to understand the lovelier things you can not see," answered Uncle Fritz, with his hand on the boy's head."

"The gardens did well that summer, and in September the little crops were gathered in with much rejoicing".

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Words we love. :D A tribute to the wonderful "Little Men" by Louisa May Alcott. We are nearly finished, only 2 chapters to go!! It has been a wonderful journey. We will surely miss Plumfield.

Saraya has especially enjoyed it. The cuddle-time, the story, the memorable characters, the giggles, the adventures, the old-fashioned beauty of simpler times. We sigh in unison. She dons her "Laura dress".......

Photos of her and her kitty Molly spending time in the garden - these two are inseparable!! :D

Sally Clarkson and our Wednesday

I love, love, love Sally Clarkson's books. I have read and re-read "The Mission of Motherhood" and it always inspires me! I also enjoyed "Seasons of a Mother's Heart" which is an encouragement for homeschool Mums particularly. She has written other books and I would love to own them all.

Sally is running a giveaway on her blog I Take Joy (see my sidebar if you are interested) for a whole bundle of her books. Jump on over and take a look for yourself! Her latest book "Dancing with my Father" is all about finding the joy in the every day. I can't wait to get my hands on that one. :)

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Ah, today. Half of it was spent at home, homeschooling and houseworking basically. The rest of the day was spent in town. One of the windows in our car went down last Friday afternoon, and wouldn't come up again! :( I had it booked in to be fixed today - and hence the children and I spent 3 and a half hours filling in time in town. We visited Lincraft (hello new ball of wool for crazy finger-knitting addicts, new $9.99 quilt cover for our bed, and watercolour pencils for Saraya), the library (hello books on Captain Cook - next unit in our Australian history curriculum), lunch (hello paninis and freshly squeezed juice) and the park. It was a good time, but good to get home again!!

After all that activity I just made some wraps for dinner. Nice and simple. There were a few things catching my eye to photograph while I was working late this afternoon and thought I'd share. :)

my hen Jasmine scratching away on our front lawn

stunning sun setting over the land

new bright yellow gerberas from a friend

my sweet daughter trying out her watercolour pencils

and a gorgeous toddler with his beanie and handbag!

When I asked William what he had in his bag, he said "mower!" Hardly surprising. And yes, there really was a small purple forklift toy in there - and he calls every type of vehicle a mower.

Time for bed I think! A big day, a good day, looking forward very very much to a home day tomorrow. :)

It Must Be Library Day!

When you see my girl sitting out on our verandah with a doll on one side and a whole basket of books on the other, you can be sure it's library day!

Yes, this morning we ventured into town and spent a nice hour or so in the library. We also bought some fruit and veg at the markets.

Saraya has done her handwriting. And aside from that, we have done little else.

A bit of vacuuming here. A bit of tv there. A bit of question-asking and some good conversation. A lovely chat on the phone with my Mum. Some shared meals. Playtime outside.

And lots and lots of reading.

A New Book in Hand

With "The Book Thief" back on the shelf, I have picked up an old favourite and have enjoyed getting reacquainted with her today.

I first read this book about 9 years ago - 2 years before my first baby was even born! To me, it's a homeschooling must-have and still remains my favourite book on home education.

I pick it up again and again and soak in the words.

Today I noted a whole page down and my notes are pinned up in the kitchen so I remember them! We will be focusing on one habit at a time, as Charlotte suggests. My children so need this before our new school term begins.

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"Some Habits to Develop:

* The Habit of Attention

* The Habit of Obedience

* The Habit of Manners

* The Habit of Truthfulness

* Habits of Thoroughness, Taking Tuns, Doing our Best, Prayer, Gratitude, etc.

Charlotte said a child should enter his adult life with about tweny of these sorts of good habits. She labeled them the "minor moralities". By "minor" I think she meant that they are the least we can do for our children. "Educate the child in right habits and the man's life will run in them, without the constant wear and tear of moral effort of decision", she told us.

A child with his conscience in training may need to remind himself, when he is with other children, "Now I will be truthful; now I will take turns; now I will be gentle with the younger ones." But by the time he is mature, all the minor moralities of life will have beomce habitual to him. He has been brought up to be courteous, prompt, neat, considerate, thankful, and helpful, and he practices rightesouness without much conscious effort. It is much easier to behave in the way he is accustomed than to originate a new line of behaviour. His mind is running in a rut, so tot speak. Likewise, ruts (fibrous connections) are found in dissected brain tissue. Both Charlotte and Dr. Jane Healey agree that this adaptation of brain tissue is the result of our educational efforts, wherein habits are graciously and mercifully ordered in the brain. Wow, everything we do leaves its mark? What a responsibility!

For those who decide to embark upon the career of habit formation, remember:

*one habit at a time

* one day at a time

* pracitice good actions weekends, too

* nip the weed in the bud because formation is more efficiently accomplished than reformation.

But be encouraged with this wise old saying, "One habit overcometh another." You may not be able to teach old dogs new tricks, but God is able to make all things new again. Isn't this a great blessing?"

The Charlotte Mason Companion p. 74, Karen Andreola.

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I also love this quote, as does Stuart. It could become part of our family motto!

"Sow an act, reap a habit,

sow a habit, reap a character,

sow a character, reap a destiny."

Thomas a Kempis.

Feeling inspired? Me too!