Ok I feel that today's blog is a challenge, as in I don't really know what to say.
We have had quite an interesting week this week. Firstly on Monday Lily and I met up with five other local home educating families, in a place called Action Replay, which is a huge soft play area suitable for children of all ages, mainly birth to 12yrs. Not sure that I know many 12 yrs that frequent a big soft play area, but most 2 - 7yr that I know love these kind of places. Lily loves meeting up with her friends here and running of energy and steam and supposedly the parents can chat to each other, if they are not too busy running after their tearaway toddlers. I think we all crave for adult conversation from time to time and sometimes we can manage decent chats between bouts of running after toddlers.
Tuesday turned out to be a loooong busy day, I had an appointment for 10.30 and in order for me to attend it I needed to have Lily in Durham by 9.30, where she was going to be looked after by my ex partner, it's about a 15 - 20 min drive from where I live, then came back for my appointment which was for 50 Min's, then had to go back to Durham to pick Lily up. But while we were there we had our preview session for Lily's photograph that she had took last week, we were there for about 45 Min's and had to select our favourite picture out of 40 photos, this was not an easy task believe me ...... money allowing I would have bought several of the photos. But Lily has truely enjoyed this Christmas gift experience. I can't remember if I mentioned it last week, but the photo portrait sitting was done by Venture http://www.thisisventure.co.uk
Later that evening Lily and I met up with our friends Claire and Hermione and we went off to Durham,. We had bought tickets to see Wototo, an African Children's Gospel choir, which in it self suggests a slight religious overtone. For which I was ok about. I try not to be too judgemental, as living quite an alternative life style my self, I believe that anyone should be allowed to follow any path they choose as long as it does not harm anyone else.
The children were good the dancing and drumming were good, all very talented young children ages from 9 to 13. But in my humble opinion there was not enough singing, dancing or drumming or enough information of the plight of these youngsters, who were all orphans. All their parents died of aids or aids related illnesses, or the children had been rescued from being child soldiers. These children come from Uganda.
These children were encouraged during the performance to talk about God, Gods plan for them, his love for them, how he choose to rescue them and give them new parents and one child even said that 'If he has a problem, then all he had to do was to pick up the phone and God would answer and sort his problem out for him.' Lily later asked me if it was true, if there was a god and if he could answer the phone. During the show they repeatedly asked for money / donations to help fund their trip and the Wototo villagers, which initially was ok, but when it exceeded more than three or four times, it became rather uncomfortable for me. I did really enjoy the singing and the children and Lily really enjoyed the experience. Which is one of the good things about home education, being able to show that there are many other, views, religions and cultures out there, which are not always what we believe in, but that other people do. But does not necessarily make one right and the other wrong. It's about alternative life styles and choices and being strong enough not to judge other people for what they believe is right for them. Oh dear I think I have waffled on a bit here and not sure if I have made any sense.http://raisingthenextgeneration.blogspot.com/ May be my friends links on her site will make more sense.
Thursday, 17 January 2008
Monday, 14 January 2008
This is the first time that we have actively taken part in the weekly project, so please bear with us, while we plod on in our merry way, and see what you all get up to.
Lily and I decided to do some baking during the week.
Anyway there were plenty of pastry scraps left over and we just started messing around with it, a bit like playdough in away. Which brought me to thinking about a blog that I read often http://unplugyourkids.blogspot.com/ and the suggested topic for this week is sculptures, Lily and I ended up doing a mini version of Stonehenge and a one of a dog eating from a bowl, we later put them in the oven on a very low temp to dry out and harden. Unfortunately I can't take pictures to upload on to my computer as my camera is flat and the charger is at a friends house, hiding somewhere :-) Any way Lily and I had a whale of a time doing this. When we had finished playing with the dough, Lily asked if I could find her some pictures of Stonehenge for her to have a look at. This one with the sunset seems to be our favourite http://www.athenasweb.com/2003/columns/Column082903.html, but there were generally some very awe inspiring pictures of Stonehenge.
Lily and I decided to do some baking during the week.
Anyway there were plenty of pastry scraps left over and we just started messing around with it, a bit like playdough in away. Which brought me to thinking about a blog that I read often http://unplugyourkids.blogspot.com/ and the suggested topic for this week is sculptures, Lily and I ended up doing a mini version of Stonehenge and a one of a dog eating from a bowl, we later put them in the oven on a very low temp to dry out and harden. Unfortunately I can't take pictures to upload on to my computer as my camera is flat and the charger is at a friends house, hiding somewhere :-) Any way Lily and I had a whale of a time doing this. When we had finished playing with the dough, Lily asked if I could find her some pictures of Stonehenge for her to have a look at. This one with the sunset seems to be our favourite http://www.athenasweb.com/2003/columns/Column082903.html, but there were generally some very awe inspiring pictures of Stonehenge.
Sunday, 13 January 2008
I decided to visit my parents today, the visit went fairly well, no real hitches .... that is until I was coming home and got stopped by the Police. I was totally guilty and I hold my hands up. I got stopped for not wearing my seat belt :-( I was in the wrong and totally accept that. I ended up with a fixed penalty of £30 which I have to pay within 28 days, I'm just so pleased that there were no points added to my licence. 2 1/2 years ago I had 3 points put on my licence for speeding, I was dashing over to a friends house who was pregnant at the time and I was doing 34 miles an hour in a 30 zone and I got caught by a speed camera. Needless to say I learn my lessons the hard way.
Saturday, 12 January 2008
Oh I'll get my moan over quick today. I really really fancied a bacon sandwich for my dinner tonight, but it's been more hassle than it was worth ...... I'd put the bacon on to cook, but Patch was up to something that he shouldn't have been and I burnt the bacon ever so slightly, but the smoke alarm has been going off intermittently ever since. Currently sitting with the back door open as I type.* deep sigh*
I acquired a new and lovely bookcase last night, courtesy of freecycle. And as I was up very early this morning, I decided that I would but all of Lily's books on the bookcase and try and sort out her room (bed), make it less cluttered in the hope that she will find it more appealing to sleep in. She has already stated that she is going to sleep in there come Monday. Fingers crossed. we have co-slept for most of her life apart from a brief spell earlier last year, but when we moved in here in October she took to my bed again. I've been patient about it, but would quite like to have my bed back to myself now. She is seven in a couple of weeks, so I don't think I'm being too unreasonable about it.
I took myself of to Durham late this morning in order to buy a new spring loaded cake tin, in an earnest attempt to start preparing for Lily's Party. She is going to have a trampolining party and we can have up to 12 guests, So Lily is busy getting a list of friends names together . The list changes frequently apart from 3 and they are always at the top, starting with her self, then H and M, after that it changes frequently, I can feel a headache and a challenge coming on :-) I'm so pleased that it only happens once a year.
Also while I was in Durham, I decided that I would buy all the cards I would need, and it just astounds me the price of cards, We have a busy week coming up ...... it starts with my mum's birthday, then my mum and dad's wedding anniversary, close friend's husbands' birthday, lily's birthday and my birthday all in the same week. I ended up buying 6 cards , but at least I'm prepared. :-)
The biggest news so far this week is....... wait for it ...... the TV has been banned. The licence was due for renewal and I have decided that in my infinite wisdom that in the short term we will try and do with out the TV. Don't know how well we will cope, so watch this space. Lily could easily be addicted to the TV and I'm afraid I use it as company on a night, The voices in the background while I'm typing at the PC, makes me feel as if there are others in the house, and you don't get the same effect with music. Although I love all kinds of music, it's just not the same as someone chatting.
I acquired a new and lovely bookcase last night, courtesy of freecycle. And as I was up very early this morning, I decided that I would but all of Lily's books on the bookcase and try and sort out her room (bed), make it less cluttered in the hope that she will find it more appealing to sleep in. She has already stated that she is going to sleep in there come Monday. Fingers crossed. we have co-slept for most of her life apart from a brief spell earlier last year, but when we moved in here in October she took to my bed again. I've been patient about it, but would quite like to have my bed back to myself now. She is seven in a couple of weeks, so I don't think I'm being too unreasonable about it.
I took myself of to Durham late this morning in order to buy a new spring loaded cake tin, in an earnest attempt to start preparing for Lily's Party. She is going to have a trampolining party and we can have up to 12 guests, So Lily is busy getting a list of friends names together . The list changes frequently apart from 3 and they are always at the top, starting with her self, then H and M, after that it changes frequently, I can feel a headache and a challenge coming on :-) I'm so pleased that it only happens once a year.
Also while I was in Durham, I decided that I would buy all the cards I would need, and it just astounds me the price of cards, We have a busy week coming up ...... it starts with my mum's birthday, then my mum and dad's wedding anniversary, close friend's husbands' birthday, lily's birthday and my birthday all in the same week. I ended up buying 6 cards , but at least I'm prepared. :-)
The biggest news so far this week is....... wait for it ...... the TV has been banned. The licence was due for renewal and I have decided that in my infinite wisdom that in the short term we will try and do with out the TV. Don't know how well we will cope, so watch this space. Lily could easily be addicted to the TV and I'm afraid I use it as company on a night, The voices in the background while I'm typing at the PC, makes me feel as if there are others in the house, and you don't get the same effect with music. Although I love all kinds of music, it's just not the same as someone chatting.
Thursday, 10 January 2008
Well we did stay at home today and had a day of just messing together. Firstly we got the day underway with some Horizon maths, which seemed to go down fairly well, Lily then still wanted to do more math work, but asked if she could do on the computer. I managed to find a web link that a friend had once mentioned to me previously. http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=npmenu Lily really enjoyed it today. She once had a go at this on a friends computer and to be honest Lily struggled with it, But today there were no problems, she had to sort out a group of numbers, place them in to circles one for odd numbers and one for even numbers. We also found another game, where the object is to find the line of symmetry, again Lily seemed to grasp this quite quickly today and we also touched on the symbols of less than, more than numbers < >
All in all Lily really enjoyed her maths today.
We did decide to do some baking today, not very adventurous, but Lily decided that she would quite like to some Vege sausage rolls. we don't do sausage rolls as a rule, I don't like them and Lily can't have ordinary rolls as most of them are made some derivative of pork and Lily has a pork intolerance, but since we had some vege sausages in that's what we did. Lily loves them.
Anyway there were plenty of pastry scraps left over and we just started messing around with it, a bit like playdough in away. Which brought me to thinking about a blog that I read often http://unplugyourkids.blogspot.com/ and the suggested topic for this week is sculptures, Lily and I ended up doing a mini version of Stonehenge and a one of a dog eating from a bowl, we later put them in the oven on a very low temp to dry out and harden. Unfortunately I can't take pictures to upload on to my computer as my camera is flat and the charger is at a friends house, hiding somewhere :-) Any way Lily and I had a whale of a time doing this. When we had finished playing with the dough, Lily asked if I could find her some pictures of Stonehenge for her to have a look at. This one with the sunset seems to be our favourite http://www.athenasweb.com/2003/columns/Column082903.html, but there were generally some very awe inspiring pictures of Stonehenge.
Tonight I 've invited a friends mum round for dinner and apart from Christmas day, it is the first time that someone has come round of an evening for a meal, I plan to do stuffed mushrooms to start with, stuffed with baby braised leeks and garlic with breadcrumbs topped with goats cheese, followed by homemade chicken Kiev, roast potatoes, parsnips and carrots followed by home made chocolate mouse made with pureed avocado, and bananas and cocoa powder, all mixed together and topped with cacoa nips, I know it doesn't sound very appetising but believe me the mouse is delicious.
All in all Lily really enjoyed her maths today.
We did decide to do some baking today, not very adventurous, but Lily decided that she would quite like to some Vege sausage rolls. we don't do sausage rolls as a rule, I don't like them and Lily can't have ordinary rolls as most of them are made some derivative of pork and Lily has a pork intolerance, but since we had some vege sausages in that's what we did. Lily loves them.
Anyway there were plenty of pastry scraps left over and we just started messing around with it, a bit like playdough in away. Which brought me to thinking about a blog that I read often http://unplugyourkids.blogspot.com/ and the suggested topic for this week is sculptures, Lily and I ended up doing a mini version of Stonehenge and a one of a dog eating from a bowl, we later put them in the oven on a very low temp to dry out and harden. Unfortunately I can't take pictures to upload on to my computer as my camera is flat and the charger is at a friends house, hiding somewhere :-) Any way Lily and I had a whale of a time doing this. When we had finished playing with the dough, Lily asked if I could find her some pictures of Stonehenge for her to have a look at. This one with the sunset seems to be our favourite http://www.athenasweb.com/2003/columns/Column082903.html, but there were generally some very awe inspiring pictures of Stonehenge.
Tonight I 've invited a friends mum round for dinner and apart from Christmas day, it is the first time that someone has come round of an evening for a meal, I plan to do stuffed mushrooms to start with, stuffed with baby braised leeks and garlic with breadcrumbs topped with goats cheese, followed by homemade chicken Kiev, roast potatoes, parsnips and carrots followed by home made chocolate mouse made with pureed avocado, and bananas and cocoa powder, all mixed together and topped with cacoa nips, I know it doesn't sound very appetising but believe me the mouse is delicious.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)