Why We Homeschool~Reason #2

“Remember what education is for~~not the success of some institution, but the enriching of the homelife; to make our men more courageous and discerning, to make our women more gracious and insightfrul, our conversations better competition for the television, our storytelling more captivating, our young men less likely to be the clods that are incapable of husbanding their wives and our aesthetic tastes more akin to true beauty.”

~~Fritz Hinrichs

In Which I Tell You That You and Your Husband Don't Need "Date Nights"

Wish I had written this. The Man of the House and I have had maybe a dozen traditional dates since we got married in 1987, and our marriage is none the worse for it. In fact, it may be better because we have learned to live happily together in the everyday, to savor the ordinary moments together (which are usually pretty extraordinary if we think about it), and to build a very satisfying life together without the external bells and whistles of nights on the town, etc. We enjoy each other’s company and snatch time together whenever we can. Our favorite is our near daily walk, but there are other times: talking in bed in the hushed silence of the late-night house, early breakfasts together before anyone else is up, even conversations over IM when we need a little privacy but the house is full. I don’t think our ancestors planned regular dates, and we don’t need to either. If you can do it and want to, do, but don’t think your marriage is doomed because you can’t or you find that you don’t really enjoy it. Give yourself the freedom to spend time together as it fits you and don’t be bound by others’ expectations.

Why We Homeschool~Reason #1

"A general state education is a mere contrivance for moulding people to be exactly like one another: and as the mould in which it casts them is that which pleases the predominant power in the government, whether this be a monarch, a priesthood, an aristocracy, or the majority of the existing generation; in proportion as it is efficient and successful, it establishes a despotism over the mind, leading by natural tendency to one over the body."

~~John Stuart Mill

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Jan. 25, 2010

Outside my window... The sun is shining! Boy-oh-boy, was it cloudy earlier, though. Very murky.

I am thinking... of where my cat might have gotten to. He’s been AWOL for a couple hours.

I am thankful for... The sunshine. (Do you notice a theme?)

From the learning rooms... typical Monday~science, writing, math, music, spelling, etc.

From the kitchen... Poor Man’s Chicken Fried Steak for dinner

I am wearing... jeans, pink top, silver earrings

I am creating... except for working on the everlasting dishcloths, nothing at the moment. I hope to begin work on my daughter’s pillows soon.

I am going... grocery shopping.

I am reading... the Jan./Feb. issue of Touchstone magazine (a Christmas present from dh).

I am hoping... that dh goes a loooooong time without another migraine.

I am hearing... the scratch of my dd’s pencil as she does her schoolwork and the sound of dh’s voice drifting down the stairs as he teaches an on-line class.

Around the house... Nothing in particular. Everything’s under control today housework-wise.

One of my favorite things... hard boiled eggs!

A few plans for the rest of the week: the haircut I didn’t manage to fit in last week, schoolwork (as usual), spending more time reading

Here is picture for thought I am sharing... Evidence that spring will get here eventually:



Thanks, Peggy! http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Cranford

Man of the House and I are in the midst of watching Cranford based on books by 19th century author Elizabeth Gaskell. Why am I just now seeing this wonderful mini-series?! Released in 2007, it comprises five episodes of about an hour each. The first disc, which we got from Netflix, has the first three episodes, and now I’m dying to get disc 2 to see how everything ends! It is delightful and witty but also tragic. No, I did not watch the surgery scene. Man of the House tells me it wasn’t very graphic, but I took no chances! No, sirree! The cast if full of familiar faces (if BBC and such is your usual viewing fare). This is probably the best thing I’ve seen since a friend told me about Miss Potter a couple years ago.

And look! The sequel, Return to Cranford, is available to view online here until Feb. 16! So get thee to a video store to watch the original, and then take advantage of the online viewing before it’s too late.

Simple Woman's Daybook~Jan. 19, 2010

FOR TODAY Jan. 19,2010... (Somehow I missed doing this yesterday, so I’m doing it today.)

Outside my window... There are three stray cats holding a kitty convention on my neighbor’s awning: a black, a gray tabby, and the other sort of blonde. I wonder what they are convening about?

I am thinking... of tests I have to grade.

I am thankful for... my very own house.

From the learning rooms... Girl of the House and I are nearing the end of our Viking study. Just six more lectures to go from The Teaching Co.’s The Vikings: http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/CourseDescLong2.aspx?cid=3910.

From the kitchen... Poor Man’s Feast from Cooking with Clara. A simple, frugal meal that my family loves. You don’t know about Clara?? Check this out: http://www.greatdepressioncooking.com/Welcome.html. I'll be using ham instead of hot dogs ($1.77/lb. at Sam's Club)

I am wearing... jeans and a purple sweater, gold hoop earrings, a watch

I am creating... more dishcloths!

I am going... nowhere!

I am reading… Still working on Thrift: A Cyclopedia by David Blankenhorn and The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis; also browsing American Farmhouses by Leah Rosch

I am hoping... my allergies won’t act up today

I am hearing... The sounds of my family walking around upstairs getting ready for the day

Around the house... It’s laundry day!

One of my favorite things... Warm food on a cold day.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Finish grading tests, take Girl 2 to the library, get a haircut. On Sunday we are attending the baptism of a young friend!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

It's at the top again. Why can't I get it to load here?? Anyway, it's a house we pass on the way to Fort Wayne, IN. Isn't it gorgeous? And yes, it is really purple, even brighter than it shows in the picture. I can't say that I love the *color*, but the house itself is beautiful! I guess this is what they mean by "painted lady Victorian."


Thanks to Peggy for hosting the Simple Woman's Daybook at http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Fun with Frugality

Here's an interview with the original Frugal Zealot, Amy Dacyzyn:



From day one of our marriage and even before, we've had to be careful with our money. It's so ingrained into my psyche now that I don't think I could live any other way, but I don't care one bit. It's quite a fun challenge to live well on less. I look at it like a game, and I get a huge thrill when I snag a real bargain. Amy Dacyzyn helped me a lot in the early days to understand that it is possible to live well and be comfortable without breaking the bank. Thank you, Amy!

I'm sure I'll do a lot more talking about frugality on this blog. It's a way of life for us, so it's sure to turn up regularly.

via Meredith at http://www.likemerchantships.org/. Thanks, Meredith!