Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Yarn Along, Mid-July


Oh how I wish the colors were coming out more accurately in the pictures, but they're not so instead, I just oversaturated the picture for fun.  The red is really a more cherry red (although the color is "Serrano" so fiery red seems fitting) and you can hardly glimpse the pocket at all but it's the sweetest bright blue.  I have little confidence in choosing color pairings (which is why painting rooms in the house brings loads of stress) but I am so glad I went with the bright blue.  It pops!  I just need to finish the two pockets, sew ends and buttons and block before it's done and ready to be folded and tucked away until the cold arrives.  No need for woolens of any kind when the highs are in the 100s and the lows aren't going below 70 most nights!

I finished the Agatha Christie novel last week (The Mystery of the Blue Train) and was about to pick up the next Little House book when the library notified me that the book I placed on hold last week had come in. The Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family was what Ginny was reading last week and although I wouldn't call our family a "large" family with just three kids, I am really enjoying the little bit I plowed through this afternoon while hiding in our air-conditioned living room.  It is amazing to me how immediate the questions come about family size, even (especially!) after the birth of a baby.  "Are you done?  Are you going to try for a boy?" are questions I still get with regularity and I don't ever know quite how to answer the question.  Frankly, trying for a baby of a certain sex doesn't really enter my thoughts as we ponder the question ourselves.  Mary Ostyn addresses some of the issues around deciding to have more children head on and with honesty at the beginning of the book and they spoke right into my heart.  I love how she focuses on prayer and waiting on the Lord for His timing and answers. Even after the first few pages of practical advice on food and grocery budgeting, I was encouraged since I am already doing most of what she recommends to have a balanced budget with several children.  I look forward to reading more of her practical and encouraging advice and ideas over the next week. 

Feeding the Sheep is one I picked up at the library too, and it is such fun!  My girls were fascinated by the simple depiction of the wool-to-yarn process.  The text is very simple which I think is perfect because it points the focus to the details in the beautiful illustrations. 

Last but not least is Family Math, one I've been perusing just a little at a time and trying to settle on a way to incorporate some of the simple ideas and lessons into our days.  We have decided not to start homeschooling/kindergarten with Lyddie this fall; she is only four and will turn five in November so if she was going to be in public school she wouldn't be starting yet either.  (While the decision is not driven by my selfish desires, I have to confess it brings me joy to think I might be able to keep her with us an extra year of life unless it's obvious we shouldn't.)  We adhere to Charlotte Mason's ideas about limiting structured educational activities before age 6-7 and instead encourage a lot of pretend play, learning in the natural world, and reading aloud.  We read so much and we are surrounded by a lot of natural opportunities for exploration of God's world around us that I am satisfied with this mindset for our family.  Beyond working on reading and writing with her (because she loves it and is definitely ready), I will probably not do much in the way of formal teaching yet and am by no means picking out a curriculum to use yet.  But especially in our winter months I do try to include some fun planned learning activities since we are cooped up together anyways and it makes the time together feel special and exciting.  So I am hoping to pick several age-appropriate math-based activities from this fun book for the coming year and prep the materials to have on hand as needed.  

Oh my, I had a lot to say today about the books I'm reading but aren't they delightful?  In other news (that you probably know), Ginny guest posted on Ann Voskamp's blog today which was an exciting treat to see in my blog feed.  I read four or five blogs religiously and both Ginny's and Ann's are included in that number.  My mind was about blown that time I found out that they are friends in person as well. If you haven't ready Ginny's post there, you really should!  

9 comments:

  1. Such good books you're reading, Sarah. We used Family Math years ago when our kiddos where littles -- seems like forever ago! Ann & Ginny -- such a small world; I'm thankful for the blog world and how it's opened up opportunities of friendship that would never have been possible otherwise. I'm clicking over. Thanks. :)

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    1. I agree, Lisa! I missed your post yesterday but was happy to see your post this morning! Yours is one of the five on my list that I read all the time and I was hoping your silence was just the busyness of summer!

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    2. Thanks, Sarah. :) We are doing our best to seize all the joy and fun possible with the recent streak of gorgeous weather. The humidity I could do without, but the sunshine is glorious!

      PS: I will check my buttons and see if I have any that would go with your shrug...I'd be happy to send you a couple to try out. I'll let you know if I find a few. :)

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  2. Did you enjoy the Agatha Christie novel? I have watched the TV shows but never read the books. I am always looking for a great read! :)

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    1. I did! I have never watched the shows and I have read a few Agatha Christie novels and enjoyed them a lot! My favorite so far has been "And Then There Were None" which I would recommend!!

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  3. Anonymous9:51 AM

    What a sweet cardigan and I love that it has a pop of blue going on. I'm having the same trouble photographing purple at the moment and think today's picture may just be the closest to the real thing, anyway I'm also liking the choice in books and all sound interesting and different.

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  4. Looks like a nice red over here! Red is difficult to capture and so is purple.. Anyways looks like you have a good book to read, can't wait to hear your thoughts.

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  5. Such a cute knit! I have no color confidence either and am always surprised when something I choose actually turns out nice. It looks like you've got some excellent reading going on right now. My homeschooling philosophy for the early years is similar to yours; children learn so much from play.

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  6. Still love this bulle! The vintage-look cloth behind it is very pretty, too. I was actually interested in 'A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family' when Ginny was reading it as well - although we also only have 3 children. The comments one gets on one's family size are interesting, aren't they? For over four years, I had only one child, and I would hear, "Only one? When are you going to have more?" and "No brothers or sisters? Isn't she lonely?" Since the twins were born, all I have heard is "You've got your hands full." I guess we went one over the ideal number, lol. I agree with you about limiting formal education for under age 6-7. I love Charlotte Mason, and she is a huge source of inspiration for me (among others). We do some kindergarten everyday, but it is very gentle, with lots of nature stories, read-alouds, arts & crafts, and some very basic reading and math skills - with *plenty* of time for unstructured play outdoors and in.

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