gasthausramstein

Willows and Woollens pt. 1

Wow. It’s going to be hard to capture the essence of the first quarter of Home Education in one post. Remember I’m not usually going to narrate here but marinate. Discuss. Ponder. In this first volume, which is written to encourage young mothers in bringing up their form one and younger children (under age 9),ContinueContinue reading “Willows and Woollens pt. 1”

Before we begin…

Beware of experts, bloggers and podcasts! Yes, I did just say that, even though I am somewhat of a blogger myself. We can rely on these things far too much. They are good. Well some of them are good. Some of them are very good. Some maybe not so much. But none of them replaceContinueContinue reading “Before we begin…”

All Education is Self-education

I was introduced to the education philosophy of Charlotte Mason ten years ago when my youngest was a baby and my kids went to an Ambleside School. I had heard the term living books but never really understood what it meant nor did I pursue it very diligently. But after five years of being veryContinueContinue reading “All Education is Self-education”

Thinking out loud

I’m in a New York state of mind. Actually being from Chicago, I’m not quite sure what that means but it sounds better than I’m in a slump. Spring fever? Too much on my plate? Distress over daughter moving to Washington State (likely but still a little up in the air)? Probably the last oneContinueContinue reading “Thinking out loud”

Charlotte Who?

Charlotte Mason was a British educator who was born about twenty years before the U.S.Civil War and died in 1923. She formed an organization called the Parents’ National Education Union and influenced national education in Britain immensely. There are still a few PNEU schools in existence today! Her methods have also been revived and importedContinueContinue reading “Charlotte Who?”

Post Christmas Blues

The Post-Christmas Blues (also known as the PCBs) are an interesting phenomenon: the build-up to everyone’s favorite time of year begins earlier and earlier each year and ends with a crashing thud. Several years back I remember seeing Christmas trees and all the ornaments and decorations that accompany them for sale in August at HobbyContinueContinue reading “Post Christmas Blues”

Over the River

It’s Christmas Eve… but it’s an odd year. My eldest and my mother in law are both flying in to visit on Dec 27th so we have postponed our family holiday. Maybe we’ll watch “A Christmas Story” or “It’s a Wonderful Life”. We will go to church this evening and celebrate there but at homeContinueContinue reading “Over the River”

…if we can keep it

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. At the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Benjamin Franklin was queried as he left Independence Hall on the final day of deliberation. In theContinueContinue reading “…if we can keep it”

A serious case of grumpy

One of my favorite books is about gratefulness. In fact I think I need to reread this book as I feel awfully grumbly as of late. I don’t like the world, politics and this feeling of unsettledness in my personal life– in no certain order. All these categories seem to slop and slosh all overContinueContinue reading “A serious case of grumpy”

Turtle Tuesday

Okay I lied. It was actually a Monday, the fourth of July to be exact, but “Turtle Tuesday” has a certain ring to it, like “Taco Tuesday” and I find it hard to resist a good alliterative title… Anyhow, the turtles were out like I have never seen them before causing me to have theContinueContinue reading “Turtle Tuesday”