In The Middle

I wanted to share a friend's blog with you all, then tell you that her timing could not have been more perfect to breathe new life into my creative bones. I'll post the last message from October, because it also includes a giveaway.

This is for those of us in the middle years ;-)...I love this gal...have known her for a long time but have only gotten to meet for coffee, great conversation, and sharing of hearts just once. You may want to go back and read all of her Oct. posts, though. She is a gifted writer and creates beautiful art. Be inspired!

A Season of Harvest


I'll be back to share the details of my new creative energies thanks to Sheila's prompting.

Thanks for reading,

Javamom

What's on Your Desk?

Mother Auma has posed a new question: "What's on Your Desk."

Mine is an intriguing mix, very much like my life. I have to make use of vertical storage space in our small cottage.

~I have a lot of Spanish resources, as you can imagine...but I don't store all my Spanish books and CD's here. They are on a bookshelf on the other side of the room.

~directly by my keyboard is today's grocery/shopping list.

~near my monitor are co-op class budget sheets that have to be turned in this Friday.

~ Also have a couple of my grade matrix sheets,

~ a symphony playbill

~ a "Look, I Can Talk" TPR storytelling book, Spanish edition

~ Under the playbill is an old hymnal.

~ Behind that is a box of old disks that have backed up files on them from my years as our homeschool group's first secretary, newsletter editor, and new homeschoolers' speaker/writer.

~ off to the left is a copy of our marriage license and passport and some other paperwork I needed recently.

~ Son's diploma is behind the speaker.

~ You can also see my collection of CM volumes, pens, pencils, blank CD's, telephone, a couple of Bibles.

~ Several silver bracelets and my glasses, which I cannot wear when I am on the computer.

~ A map of Germany

~ misc. post-it note reminders

~ CD Resource set that goes with my High School "Ven Conmigo" program. It contains lesson plans, answer keys, test generators, video clips, audio clips and more!

~ misc. copies of Ven Conmigo student homework sheets which I've been working on

~ A Jane Austen Biography

~ Cards from friends

~ photos

~ candles

~ camera lens

~ Software (at the very back) that is hardly ever used.

~ IKEA basket to the left, full of family photos

~ Mexican money

~ pressed, framed wildflowers

~ My prayer list is on the chalkboard to the left.

~ Co-op calendar is posted above that on the corkboard.

~ Bookbinding jobs/clients list is just above that

~ Bible verse quote and

~ family photos are posted on the bulletin board on the right.


Now, what's on your desk? I'm glad I have doors on mine!! LOL


Javamom

Mellow Saturday of Reading and Music

Currently listening to Edgar Meyer on double bass with Béla Fleck, while making up my own chocolate syrup from cocoa powder and sugar. This concoction is for a peppermint mocha that I'm making this late Saturday morning to sip whilst I read some Charlotte Mason for book club.

It is so quiet in the house, as our four jr. high and high schoolers had a lock-in with their church youth group friends or stayed at friends' homes. I'm very glad, as we had co-op, so I was "wiped out" from the time and energy that it takes for the planning and executing of a successful day. The middle two are back now, but fast asleep, of course! I hear they had a wonderful time of snacks, games, and even a 2 a.m. worship time that DD got to serve in by her preparation of the set and playing the bass guitar. Oldest son is with his best buddies-four, as one of their own has returned from college for spring break, so they have gotten to catch up and have good discussions, etc.

Most of Edgar Meyer's music (that I've heard thanks to Dread Pirate Sparse-beard) is a wonderful and interesting amalgam of sounds. In his own words~

“Most of the music I’ve become interested in is hybrid in its origins…Classical music, of course, is unbelievably hybrid. Jazz is an obvious amalgam. Bluegrass comes from eighteenth-century Scottish and Irish folk music that made contact with the blues. By exploring music, you’re exploring everything.” – Edgar Meyer

Click here to watch a clip of Edgar Meyer and Béla Fleck playing a bit of Bach on double bass and banjo, then giving an interview together on A & E's "Breakfast With The Arts."

The last time we went to see the symphony, we were given free tickets which placed us right behind the orchestra on the very front row. I always wondered what that would be like, with the whole audience looking right at this section, where the chorus sits when it joins the symphony.

We quickly forgot about the audience and got lost in the music. I had an absolutely wonderful time being so close that we could follow the conductor and watch his expressions, but also being so close that I could read the music of several instrument sections. That was an unexpected surprise! Being in these seats also meant that we were directly behind the percussion section. I have come to enjoy our orchestra's percussionists immensely, so this was another treat. It was as close to being back in the band (4th grade through high school, where I played flute and bassoon) or symphony (college-bassoon only) as I've been in decades.

James Galway, my childhood hero, played several times both before and after the intermission. That was the main reason we sought tickets this particular night. This was one of our best symphony visits, ever!

Take time to enjoy the music!
Javamom

~ TP'd again ~

Our boys had some fun tp-ing our friends' home...so said friends got even :-). Though said friends have also gotten us two or three times now, and one of our boys participated in the aforementioned activity only once.

Yes, our boys had to clean it all up, with a little help from Dread Pirate Sparsebeard. He can wield the extend-a-poll a lot better than Jr. High arms can. He's strong from all that Swabbing of the decks, raising of the sails, and all that "piratey" stuff, LOL.

Friday Evening Comforts

I've been ill for the last two days with a lot of aches and a low-grade fever. I missed co-op today, as I knew I wouldn't be up for standing much of the day to teach and help. It took me longer than usual yesterday to make sure my lesson plans (for my three classes) were more detailed and nicely laid out for my assistants to take over for me. I also made sure all necessary paperwork and assignments were easy to find. My growing children were such good helpers to see that my supplies got to the right people this morning. They are awesome. I was able to sleep long and peacefully today.
The previous night was terrible, as I awoke every hour, and never could get very comfortable. My neck ached something awful.

'Twas especially nice for Dread Pirate Sparsebeard to bring home some Hot and Sour soup and a couple of old Poitier movies. The house was all quiet with the teens gone for the evening to a Literary costume ball. Our third teen is spending the night with a friend. Only our youngest was home, and he'd earned some time on the computer.

Soup, Tea, and Poitier. These are some of the comforts of home.

Javamom

Switching Gears

Time to lighten up with some of our favorite things:

~ Hanging out in hammocks
~ our kitties
~ good books and good art

11.5 yos called me from his room to point out Tigger hamming it up in the hammock for relaxation. Here is mittens on H.E. Marshall's _English Literature for Boys and Girls_. She had been admiring Monet's "The Corn Poppies" that you see behind her. I catch her napping behind that easel fairly often.


Mittens is more literate than Tigger. She has always preferred being near the books, on the books, and even looks on while the kids read their books! You think I jest?



:-D Javamom