Baby, It’s Cold Out There

We’ve been staying warm inside.

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I’ve started writing for Home & School Mosaics as a monthly contributor (in addition to the sporadic reviews I’ve written for them over the past year or so). I do enjoy being involved with a wonderful group of women (and men). The articles are always interesting to read and I am blessed to be a part of the team. You should check out there website for lots about homeschooling, but also about home and family matters. They have a few interesting things running this year like a weekly link-up (this week check out crock pot meals), featured homeschooling styles, and a kind of “book club” per say. I’ve been working on the feature for the February older child book and I’m excited to share it. I’ve never done anything like it before.

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All three children are gone math CRAZY. I introduced Morgaine to Khan Academy and she loves it. I think that we are going to use it as her main math curriculum. Liam has also been plugging away at Khan Academy and pre algebra from Math Mammoth. Ruadhan is also a very eager math student and we’ve been having tons and tons of fun with Right Start Math. He goes around the house asking when his lesson is going to be. It’s fun to have the children interested in learning again.

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We’re busy looking at houses while simultaneously trying to get our house ready to go on the market. My husband has taken a position even further away from home which means that the children do not really get to see him during the week and it leaves long days for both of us. I think the isolation of our current locations has been wearing on all of us and while I adore the land and could not ask for a better house, it is time to look for something in a community where the kids can start making connections again that go beyond just Mom and Dad. We just put new windows on our house here in rural NB and she’s looking really good.

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Soap making at Lye Abilities got a little behind over the holiday season so I am pretty busy restocking my shelves right now. I ended up with the never ending plague and ones sense of smell is quite important to soap making and aromatherapy work, I’m afraid. Mike bought me a fraudulent soap making book (there will be a post coming to warm other soap makers *sigh*), however, I was able to save the soap my turning it into a beautiful rustic hot process lavender soap. While hot process soap making is not my favourite, it does speed up curing time quite dramatically and that’s a plus when one is behind. I’m actually quite liking this one so I’m think it may become a part of the regular line up at Lye Abilities. What do you think?

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We’ve officially reached near annoying adolescence with our PUPPY. She being quite the challenging little dog at the current time. This stage did not last very long for Cyndi, who has mellowed into a lovely mature dog, but if I ever, ever (like even 10 years from now) tell you I am considering a puppy, please remind me that I really don’t mean it. :p

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Things are settled into a pretty good routine and we’re feeling pretty at ease with the way things have started out this year. Lots of new plans. New energy to get things done and come to a place were we can relax and enjoy each other more. Everything is quite comfortably routine for now and i’m okay with that. We are willing to take are time with whatever decision come our way and it is nice to be able to do so. One day at a time.

The Empty Picture Frame

We like to keep it real here over at Real Life: Unscripted.

Last May a beautiful wee girl was added to our (extended) family when my brother in law and his wife welcomed their first child. Every day since then he has taken a photograph of his daughter and shared it in his #365sophie project on Facebook and his website (check him out, Sophie is just gorgeous – and he’s a pretty decent photographer :p ).

It is amazing that he has taken a photograph everyday. It is amazing that his ideas are all so wonderfully creative. It is amazing that he has somehow managed to figure out how to harness time and get more hours out of the day. It’s amazing that every photograph is magical and beautiful. However, what I am most amazed with it the fact that not only are to photographs taken, but they are printed and hung up in various locations in the their home. I actually see this quite often, printed and hung photography hanging on people’s walls. It seems to be the thing to do.

Amazing, I say. You see, about 4 years ago when my husband and I were still doing small presents for each other for the holidays, I requested a picture frame so that we could print out some of our photos and hang that up (you see, I’m a pretty decent photographer myself when I actually put my mind to it). My husband asked me what I intended to do with it and I told him I’m print off some photos and hang it on the wall, of course. Somehow, however, that frame is still sitting empty in storage (and it true real life fashion has received a few dings in our moves).  I find excuse after excuse not to send away for prints. I avoid going through the photos looking for the memories I want to preserve and hang on the wall. I just can’t seem to do it. I really have no idea why that picture frame has been destined to sit empty, but that has been the case thus far. There’s something holding me back. The only print photos I have of my children are those taken by my brother in law when he was just starting out. My goal this year is to change that. I know it doesn’t seem like much, as it could be done in an afternoon if I put my mind to it. However, it feels bigger than that and  I’m pretty sure I will continue to let this drag on.

Is there anyone else out there has a hard time showcasing their beautiful children? Maybe it’s that word- showcase – like I am putting their life on display. I don’t know what it is, but I intend to change it this year. Maybe I need to leave it up the the children to choose their favourite photos. Hmmmm, ramblings…….but yeah, am I the only one without any print pictures of their children?