We live on the Canadian prairie. We homeschool because we believe that humans should not be mass-manufactured. We’ve always preferred pottery mugs to factory cups and original art to prints. We’ve been trying to live our lives as consciously and mindfully as possibly, feeling as though we were creating life-art, or at least like we were artisans. Recently, though, the world has broken open in a shower of a thousand seeds falling on fertile ground. Everywhere we look there’s some new skill to learn, some new thing to make. Life is beautiful.
Roll Call:
Me: I’m a former Mennonite, former punk, left-leaning feminist. I’m a former La Leche League Leader and a Weight Watchers Leader. I’m silly. I’m serious. I run to save my sanity and my waistline. The ritual of tea drinking is an important moment of quiet and self-centeredness in each day. I discovered knitting, which led to art, which led to a joyous, adventurous view of the world.
You can also find me at Flickr where I post many more pictures and scans. You can contact me at sarah DOT schira AT gmail.com. I used to blog at Poppins Classical Academy.
Sandra: My serious, stubborn, thoughtful, 18 year-old daughter. She’s been diagnosed with problems with her eyes – tracking and teaming, specifically. Her reading has really suffered because of it. We addressed it through therapy and exercises and she’s finally reading at grade level. She loves rules and predictability. She doesn’t like change but now loves to challenge herself. Conversations with her are deep and thought-provoking. She loves the Lord of the Rings movies like Peter Jackson loves them: inside out and in detail.
Matthias: (pronounced Ma- TEE- as) My hilarious 15 year-old boy. I did a happy dance the day he began whining because it meant that he had an option other than physically expressing his emotions (ie, hitting). He’s got the best smile I’ve ever seen. It’s like the sun. He’s playful, cheerful, and stronger than any child has a right to be. I homeschool him in short bursts of quality…because what other choice to I have? Short bursts of crap?
Rainer: (pronounced Rye-ner) My marathon-running, ultra fab, German husband. We met and fell in love when I was 13. He’s a medievalist, an academic librarian and a feminist. The best parts of my day involve making him laugh.
Handmade Homeschool 
I’m hereby tagging you for the book meme
Here are the rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people
It’s great to read a bit about your family after checking out your flickr photos. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on parenting and living…very inspiring.
I’m starting a blog called The Lovely List, and I would like for you to be a guest on it.
I totally love your blog, it’s topics, and the sweet, lovely things you share with your readers. I think it would be fun to share your voice/blog with others. Pretty please let me know asap if you would like to have a little fun and participate. Shoot me an email in the next few days if you’re up to it and I will send you all the details. Thanks Muchy!
~Brandy
The Lovely List
Hi! My name is Kerry Jones, and I am the moderator of a new website for secular homeschoolers called “SecularHomeschool.com”.
This site is a combination social network, forum, and resource site. We have articles about secular homeschooling, news items, a Twitter feed, a forum, a blog, and a host of ways for members to connect and share their experiences.
I was wondering if you would take a minute today to check out the site and see what you think. Like I said, we are new, and are still working out a few “bugs,” but we are growing by several new members each week, and we would love to have you join us.
One of the newest resources we are working on is a list of secular homeschool bloggers. We would like to offer this list as a resource for our members so they can find and follow quality blogs by secular homeschoolers. If you would be willing to have your blog listed on our resource page, could you email me and let me know? topsytechie@gmail.com
Also, if you visit and enjoy the site, we would appreciate it if you might consider adding our button to your sidebar (code is on the homepage of the website), so that your blog visitors might find out about us as well.
Thanks for your time, and I sure hope to see you at SecularHomeschool.com!
Kerry Jones
aka: Topsy
Site Moderator
Hi Sarah,
Just wanted to let you know that I passed on the Kreativ Blogger Award to you (just wrote about it in my most recent post). I have really enjoyed following you and your family on your journey!
Alisha
So you’re not a Mennonite anymore…I’d love to hear about that transformation as well.
I’ve just found you. What a blessing to read about your home schooling life. 🙂
Hi –
Love your blog and your gentle philosophy. I’m wondering if you would be willing to trade links; my blog is http://www.highonhomeschool.wordpress.com. Please take a look and let me know what you think. Thank you!
Hi Sarah,
I spoke with you a few months ago about homeschooling. I live in Brandon and have a 4 year old girl. Would you be able to send me the link to the yahoo group again. I didn’t get it going for some reason and would like to try it again!
Cheers,
Crystal
Hi Sarah,
I’ve passed on to you the Beautiful Blogger Award. You can read more about it on my blog post for today. I’ve enjoyed reading about your family and all the wonderful knitting projects you’re doing. Love the quote and a question posts. You’re very inspiring!! I’d be honored if you accept it.
Warmly,
~leslie
Great blog!
Our family is moving to Brandon this fall – do you know where I can find fellow homeschoolers?
Melanie, I am planning on homeschooling my 5 year old daughter. My neighbors also homeschool (4 kids). My email is crystaltaiter@hotmail.com. I am also on facebook!
Cheers,
Crystal Tait
Hi I homeschool my son Mitch he is 11. He has just started this blog. He is hopeing to make some new friends by blogging.I am thinking of starting one now that I have seen yours. You also have a similar outlook to us. It was lovely reading your blog. Thanks
Because you have been inspiring me for years, I am inviting you to be one of the first “friends” I share my blog with: http://meditationsonmeaningfulness.com/2011/07/21/the-paradigm-shift/
I know, you didn’t even know we were friends, but I did. I have been right there with you on the homeschooling wiggly kids journey from classical homeschooling, to classical unschooling, to unscheduling, to finally relaxing into creating a homemade life with my favorite people.
I really like your blog. Can I friend you on Good Reads? I like your book lists for your kids and for yourself as well.
Hi there! I’m creating a blogroll of blogs that blog (at least occasionally) about homeschooling high school. (http://letshomeschoolhighschool.com/homeschool-high-school-blogs/) I came across yours today and would LOVE to add it. If you would consider this, could you email me? katie@letshomeschoolhighschool.com. Thanks in advance! Blessings…
Katie
Wow, Great posts and very informative. I would love to do a Skype interview to pick your brain for my listeners.
I would love to follow your blog, but don’t see a button for that. Visit me at grammyslifesofar.org. I am a former homeschool mom, speaker and writer. Thanks!
Hi,
I have been reading your blog for more than couple of months now and have learned a lot. It is really good and you are maintaining it very well. I would like to submit my post on your blog (as guest post) with my website link. Please let me know if you are accepting guest posts for free of cost and I’m ready to discuss my contents with you, I promise you with unique, quality and 100% plagiarism free content. I am looking forward to get your reply.
Thank You,
Tanya Schenck