A platter of random thoughts and goodies for you:
Zeus on the Loose: a game for those of you who like fast-paced games, for those of you who like Sleeping Queens, and for those of you looking for ways to add a bit of math to the day.
I’m reading “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” for the first time and I can’t put it down. I’m terrified that something really bad is going to happen, and I keep reading faster, hoping to get it over with. That narrow view…I’ve dealt with it in church and in the religious high schools I attended, though not in this extreme form, and it makes me feel all tight inside. I want to look up the ending, but I won’t let myself.
A little serious reading that is full of insight and clarity: What is Education For? Six myths about the foundations of modern education and six principles to replace them by David Orr. It’s rare that I read something that reaches out to me this way.
I really wish I had an extra week. Can someone stop time or hire a nanny for me? There are sewing projects, decluttering imperatives, and homeschooling research to be done and I keep treading water in the soup of the everyday.
Easy, cheap, fast way to redecorate: Mosaic Wall
Handmade Homeschool 
The Witch of Blackbird Pond is an old favourite of mine! I am so glad you discovered it.
I remember that book scaring my daughter in 3rd grade! Now she remembers it foundly [6th grade]
Hey, I was just thinking I could use an extra week myself. Maybe it’s the different vibe of spring — all sorts of ideas for cool things to do popping up in my head like little seeds popping up out of the ground.
On the Mosaic Wall, I saw a smaller version once with post-it notes. I love both ideas.
Love the David Orr. We use this quote to shape our lives and how we look at our child’s education:
We can attempt to teach the things that one might imagine the earth would teach us: silence, humility, holiness, connectedness, courtesy, beauty, celebration, giving, restoration, obligation and wildness.
David Orr from “Earth in Mind”
We love the Gamewright games around here – Mummy Rummy, Slamwich is a REAL winner, Horse Shoe for my pony obsessed 9yr old. I love that the kids can play by themselves while Mama sneaks in some knitting;-) If you find a way to stop time or buy extra please let me know!
Stopping time – just pausing it for a few weeks – that would be lovely. I have so many books that I want to get read, that feel important to read before my girls are too big. They probably aren’t and they’re currently on the back burner to life, but, oh, I would love to curl up and read them.
Dr Orr’s essay reminded me of my Trinity Prof John F. Kilner’s observation that one interpretation of the verse in the Bible about struggling against rulers and authorities is that there are spiritual powers spreading ‘unintended consequences’ throughout the natural world and human institutions; thwarting good governance.
Have you read Nancy Piercy’s book “Total Truth” about worldviews? I’d love to hear your reactions to it, especially the chapter on educated women adjusting to motherhood in the modern world: she homeschooled by the way.
I love the witch of Blackbird Pond too. I want to be as hospitable as Hannah.
-Christine in Massachusetts
The Witch of Blackbird Pond is my most favorite book from childhood … it always makes me happy when I hear that someone has found it for the first time!!
We have loved all the Elizabeth Speare books. In fact, we are reading Calico Captive now as a read aloud while we are studying the French and Indian War. My son’s favorite is The Sign of the Beaver.
I have a confession to make. When we read Witch as a read aloud, I stayed up all night to find out what happened. Then, I had to pretend I didn’t know what was going to happen for the rest of the week, until the family finished. I’m terrible, that way, with absolutely no self control when it comes to books.