http://willa.homeschooljournal.net This curiosity, this desire to make some kind of sense of things, goes right to the heart of the kind of creatures that we are. -- John Holt Wed, 27 Aug 2008 05:50:30 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en My occasional Daybook. Adventures in Recent Past and Future: We took Liam back to college on Sunday. We may get a new van. New indeed! It has 111K on it, but is in good shape and comes with a warranty. Hey, how many rural families of nine do you know that have ... http://willa.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/27/sierra-highlights-3/ I told Kieron about the 100 Species Challenge and he liked the idea of it. I have been wanting to take the children on more regular nature walks so I thought this might be a good focus. Paddy was excited about "hunting for animals" so yesterday ... http://willa.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/21/expotition-to-the-south-and-west/ "This was one of those perfect ...days in late summer where the spirit of autumn takes a first stealing flight, like a spy,.... and, with feigned sympathy for those who droop with August heat, puts her cool cloak of bracing air about leaf and flower and human shoulders."Sarah Orne Jewett So ... http://willa.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/20/a-cool-cloak-of-bracing-air/ My favorite elusive blogger and thinker Steph nominated me for a Brillante award. (I loved Rosie's "hide and seek" description : ). Steph is one of the most thoughtful writers and faithful commenters that I know. I am so surprised and honored ... http://willa.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/18/award/ My occasional Daybook. Adventures in Recent Past and Future: Yesterday Sean and Kevin went with Grandpa to a City College football dinner. Next week Liam goes back to college. Where Everyone Is: Clare just woke up, I hear. Aidan is getting his morning minutes on the NIntendo ... http://willa.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/18/sierra-highlights-2/ These are Paddy's old friends. Most of them used to belong to Sean, who at age 5 carried them everywhere for months, but they have had the happy destiny of becoming loved anew after a period of exile in the toy-box. I think when Paddy has ... http://willa.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/17/paints-and-playmates/ You know, I said I had requested Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior from the library. But I was mistaken. It was Kevin who requested it from my card. I couldn't remember where I had heard the book mentioned, so I knew I recognized ... http://willa.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/16/weekend-rest/ takes almost as long as homeschool. This is about 10 pm. I guess the Olympics in the background didn't help much ;-). http://willa.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/15/homework/ Today we saw Sean off for his first regular day of school (yesterday was the frosh orientation, so not a "real" day of school) and then I brought Clare down to town for her orthodontist appointment (Aidan calls this the 'orca-dentist'). Then we had a girls' shopping trip, ... http://willa.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/15/691/ Last night, it seemed like no one was ever going to go to sleep. Some of them were watching the Olympics; Clare and Liam were looking through a Sister Wendy art book; Sean was talking to a friend on the phone, and then even though he went ... http://willa.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/13/the-yellow-bus/