SAT prep today with Boy. Rather exhausting. He had a good attitude - I just found it exhausting - rigidly observing time limits, not interfering, not explaining, not helping. Very different from our typical learning days, which I guess are sort of like a liberal arts college - lecture, learning together, immersing ourselves in a topic.

I spent a lovely afternoon with Boy. We did two lessons in AP Physics, several citizenship lessons, a lesson in Introductory Music Theory, and penmanship.

I loved doing the physics with him - he grasped the concepts immediately, and although I was completely lost from the get go, he figured acceleration, velocity, used vectors and all that jazz quite effortlessly. I mean, honestly, I never even thought of the concept of motion in one dimension or motion in two dimensions. Can you comprehend either this equation: = Dx / Dt = (xf - xi) / (tf - ti) or this one = Dv / Dt = (vf - vi) / (tf - ti) WTF? I can't even cut and paste all the characters. So, DH calls in to check on how the schooling is going and I'm just amazed. I'm saying how well Boy is doing and how impressed I am when he's never done any physics before. With his typical nonchalance, DH says "Well, actually, that's not true, hon. His whole life has been about applied physics, he's lived physics in nearly everything we've done, he just hasn't sat down with a textbook." OK, that makes it all clear to me.

There will most likely be few, or no posts for August. DH and I had originally planned to take the month off and go away somewhere together - you know,we never had a honeymoon. Things are quiet here at home with Jessebear working and teaching full-time, Kyle not getting many hours at the orchard due to all the rain (poor farmers out here) and Abby's babysitting slowing down some. The local homeschool community sort of vanishes in July and August, unlike us, most people take the summer off. We just got the call informing us that my MIL is quite ill and going into the hospital tomorrow, so we are off to Texas to try and help out. Jessebear, the adult, will be in charge and will have to learn about winning over one's charges and not treating human beings like horses. It will be a good opportunity for all to grow and mature - if they so choose to see it as such. Or, there will be typical sibling interactions, wailing and gnashing of teeth.

We just returned from camping on the shore - which was mostly quite lovely. Unfortunately, there were no warning signs posted anywhere, and while the girls were swimming, they got quite stung by many of these little devils http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_nettle
which is rather funny, because Bubba said it felt like she had gotten into a very large patch of Stinging Nettle. We've never seen any signs posted at the beach or the entrance to the state park, but after we had to get the ranger to come out and bring us some vinegar to treat the girls, posters suddenly appeared at the entrance and at the ranger stations. Since we've come home, we've been doing some reading on jellyfish. Another interesting site is http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids/9608/jellyfish/

I must say - it put a bit of a damper on the camping trip. The girls did not feel well so we came home a day earlier than planned. Other than that, though, it was hot, sunny, hot and quite nice.

Bubba babysat this morning. Boy worked in the orchard all day. Jesse worked at the barn. I ran Bubba around this afternoon after babysitting so she could get all her important errands done. Then it was time to pick Boy up at the orchard. We stayed a bit and picked strawberries. Mmmm, fresh strawberries.

Tomorrow, Bubba works at the orchard. Boy will get a computer day. Jesse will work at the barn. I have to prepare hors d'ouerves for a party in the evening, but I fully intend to enjoy the promised sun in the morning and the afternoon.

Chess club today! In the nature preserve! So much better than being inside.

Kyle played two games at the same time, and Abby did her Pied Piper routine with the little ones after the games were over. She has Dave's golden touch with children, and mine with animals. It's funny seeing it in action.

They hung out and read at the nature preserve afterwards for around an hour. Pretty day, intermittent clouds, steamy warm. Felt soooo good to sweat.

My first baby, darling Jesse girl turns 20 today.

Here she is, eleven years ago

















And here she is, now

She is strong-willed, self-confident and assured. She works hard and has a way with horses (and most other animals). She is very good at selling, at networking and at writing, although she hates to write. She's imaginative, compassionate and very focussed. She sometimes treats her siblings like wayward horses, but she is mostly kind to them. She continues to be primarily self-taught, choosing to learn on her own, in her own way, rather than in groups and by rote. If she wants something, she figures out how to get it, the right way. She is moral, ethical and tries her best to live by the Golden Rule. She still cuddles up to me, gives me great hugs and sweet kisses on my cheek. Sometimes, after a long day at work, she'll just lean into me, like she did when she was little. She still talks to me, 'tho' less now than she used to.

Before I became pregnant with her, I dreamed of a baby like her, but I never dared hope I would have one. The first time I held her in my arms I was overwhelmed with such an intense and fierce love - I did not know it was possible to love anyone that way or that strongly. I have loved raising her, teaching her, living with her, watching her grow and learn. I am so proud of her and I love her so much. I wish and hope for the best for her, for her to find and nurture a good love, to be happy, to give back to this world, to grow and learn all of her days and to spread joy and peace in her path.

Happy Birthday, Jessebear!

I had to work today, so the children took my cell phone and walked the five plus miles to the library.



It was beautiful today - nearly 70 degrees, sunny, not too windy. The children took back roads so they would not have to walk along the country highway, and along the way, they saw this























And then they saw this











And they frolicked a bit

More Spring in New England

The little six-lobed plants below are a rather rare wildflower, Bloodroot. it was used by the native americans as a medicinal palnt. When you pick it, the sap runs red, like blood. Of course, we don't pick it as that is illegal. It has beautiful white flowers (should be blooming in the next few weeks).

SPRING IN NEW ENGLAND

After six and one-half days of solid, often torrential, rain, the sun broke through unexpectedly this afternoon. Abby, Kyle and Julia went on a three hour walk, over thwe fields, through the woods and down by the lake.

Ketsuka!

Our three white belts, ready for class. It looks like Dave may get tested for his yellow belt tonight - we'll see!