Beowulf

Beowulf

We are nearing the end of our adventures with Beowulf. Actually we sadly read the tale of the death of the brave Ring-giver today. Firstborn recently did some copywork from an earlier verse in the epic wherein the elder King Hygelac is sagely exhorting Beowulf to be mindful of the fragility of life even in the wake of his great defeat over the man eating Grendel. King Hygelac speaking to his adorned, but youthful, hero:

O flower of warriors, beware of that trap.
choose, dear Beowulf, the better part,
eternal rewards. Do not give way to pride.
For a brief while your strength is in bloom
but it fades quickly; and soon there will follow
illness or the sword to lay you low,
or a sudden fire or surge of water
or jabbing blade or javelin from the air
or repellant age. Your piercing eye
will dim and darken; and death will arrive,
dear warrior, to sweep you away.

Firstborn and I relished the poet's masterful description of the creation of the earth in the earliest verses of the epoch:

The a powerful demon, a prowler through the dark,
nursed a hard grievance. It harrowed him
to hear the din of the loud banquet
everyday in the hall, the harp being struck
and the clear song of a skilled poet
telling with mastery of man's beginnings,
how the Almighty had made the earth
a gleaming plain girdled with waters;
in His splendour He set the sun and the moon
to be earth's lamplight, lanterns for men,
and filled the broad lap of the world
with brancehs and leaves; and quickened life
in every other thing that moved.

In all honesty, I had no previous knowledge of the tale of Beowulf and did not expect that we would read the entire book. Rather unexpectedly, it has been a glorious and riveting story of bravery, youth, wisdom, loyalty, faith in God, virtue, death and the battle against evil at any cost. Although Rosebud did ask that we not read the "next" book (she is accustomed to books coming in series), I think it is fair to write that we have all enjoyed hearing of Beowulf's adventures and character. I hope to have Firstborn compose a written summary of some sort after we finish the final pages later this week.

Thursday 8 Mar 07

The classroom has officially moved outdoors this week. Tuesday we measured, measured, and measured the backyard. Wednesday I drew a scale model of the yard using both our measurements and the survey that came with the house. (Firstborn has requested a copy of this model so that he can try to fill in some of the details to make it more illustrated.) Today there were a few last measurements and then the digging began.

At the rear of our property is a chain link fence; beyond that, we can see the back of our neighbor's house and partially onto their oversized side yard/dog run and then out on to the street parallel to our own. It isn't an offensive view, but it is haphazardly interrupted by 4-8' tall hackberry trees ("trash trees") that have spontaneously taken up root over the years. I have always considered these trees to be an eyesore and of no value to us in terms of asthetics or privacy. So this morning the apprentice gardeners and I began the work of sawing down the trees and digging up portions of the roots. It was hard work, but the weather couldn't have been better for outdoor physical labor. There is a bit remaining for tomorrow which is predicted to be another glorious spring-like day.

In addition to finishing the task of clearing out the fence line, the Prof will be home most of tomorrow and I hope to walk the property with him and the children so we can discuss some of my landscaping ideas. I also hope to stop by the school where the Prof works to re-examine some of the neat landscaping they have incorporated during the past year and possibly at a nursery to discuss garden border options.

The bright sun and warm air are so invigorating. I am drinking in deep breaths of this wonderful season as it will soon be burned away by the blazing sun. I hope that we will have a garden that will be inviting enough to beckon us out for an early morning iced tea on even the hottest late summer days.

St. Fiacre, pray for us.

(Monday &) Tuesday

Monday...forget it. Monday was blur of dental appointment, dropping off and picking up children, cleaning house, phone calls & e-mails, teaching lessons, early dinner, teaching class, meetings. No school and probably no real learning. That is behind us now.

Tuesday was so very relaxed by comparison. Firstborn did some Latin, Math, and music practice and by then the temps had risen enough that I was willing to head outdoors for the beginning of our landscaping adventure. The three eldest and I wove around the back yard marking every possible measurement: from the privacy fence to the corner of the house, from the privacy fence to the patio, patio to driveway, privacy fence to chain link fence, back of house to back fence, back fence to coop, back fence to Kindergarten, back fence to playscape, etc., etc.
Next task is to get it down on graph paper.

In the afternoon there was artistic pursuits followed by a tasty and simple supper. After dinner the children worked on their Lenten coloring contest pictures and the girls worked on Sunshine's jewelry box. They called their friends, the H's and we called it a day. Such a pleasant contrast to Monday.

Wednesday, 28 Feb 07

For the first time in years, we do not have art class on Wednesdays. It has been a long standing routine to spend our Wed mornings either cramming school work or cleaning house. Mid-day we have always made the dash to art class and then attended or, more recently, hosted a Rosary/playdate. Busy day. But, no more. Art has been switched and really made the morning seem luxurious.

We actually did a credible amount of school work and, after lunch, spent a good amount of energy cleaning the house before our friends arrived.

Firstborn:

• MUS: we checked the first three pages of lesson 3, no worries there (completed 2 today)
• Handwriting: nearly completed the book
• Poetry: claims to have it memorized, though I haven't heard it yet.
• History: worked on a coloring page from a Dover Story of the Crusades book
• Latin: started a new lesson today, though I need to listen to the lesson as it sounded grammar heavy and I was preoccupied at the time he watched the DVD
• Baseball

Sunshine:

• MUS: Completed a page
• Handwriting: plugging along...did a page today
• Sewing: a) completed a button braclet and b) completed a little sachet stuffed pillow

Rosebud:

• Sewing: she is really excited to start some sewing again. Rosebud completed a button braclet and practiced straight even stitches with burlap & yarn

Little Queen:

Yup, poor thing gets passed around and told "no" so much during the morning R&R. I finally decided I just needed to sit down to give her my full attention on some activities as well. She LOVED it! We did a couple of shape puzzles and well as the shape sorter box. Repeatedly. Fun! The siblings had a hard time not joining in or interupting me, but I insisted (as I do when I am working one on one with them) that I was not available as I was giving Little Queen a lesson. Little Queen responded soooo well to this that I feel all the more guilty for not doing it more often and all the more determined to do it daily. (Of course I give her attention other times, but during R&R it seems like we just try to keep her "out of the way" most of the time. How disrespectful!)

Tomorrow we have guests, so there probably will not be a lot of school and Friday we will wrap a few things up. During March, we are moving the classroom outdoors for gardening and landscaping projects. There may not be textbooks, but there will be plenty of math & science!

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Lunch: This & That
Dinner: (with neighbor Courtney...fun!) Cheese & Bean Quesadillas and salad.

Addendum to Monday

I can't figure how to edit in this "new" blogger. So, I just wanted to add that I went to bed last night after blogging. I was snuggled into bed and just letting go of that final thread of consciousness when I heard a cough. A suspicious cough. Another. And then the cry. "Professor, I think someone has thrown up." Ah, yes. Out to the line to get some of those clean diapers. Down to start the washer with pillow, sheets and nightgown. Start the bath; hair needs washing. And grab a pillow for my most beloved husband who has volunteered to sleep on the girls' bedroom floor in case he is needed during the night.

Blessed relief, it was a seemingly isolated event.

Holding my breath for the other little ducklings to show symptoms of the the one hour flu.

Details of Monday

Didn't get up until 7:30; of course, the children had already been up for awhile and the Prof had left just shortly before. Dressed and started a load of diapers; we were desperate.

I was hesitant to cook much because there was, most unfortunately, a mountain of pots & pans awaiting washing. But, we had yogurt with granola, sausage patties & scrambled eggs. The Prof returned home and I went for a shower. Confession: It had been awhile since my last. I took a long time with the morning toilette. I knew it was going to be a big day and I just needed a nice morning boost. Made a phone call regarding tonight's class. Meanwhile, the children cleaned up the breakfast table, folded laundry (even more than they had been asked to do!), practiced their music lessons and piddled around a bit.

The Prof started a lesson in the studio and I started some with the little scholars. Firstborn did some handwriting and watched a new MUS lesson. Sunshine also did math. We left for ballet on time! We arrived early! The Prof, of course, was home teaching when we left, so we just waved a quick goodbye.

Ballet. Sunshine and Olivia were the only ones there today, so they got a really good workout. While we waited, Firstborn did some math and I read another chunk of Beowulf to him. Rosebud & Little Queen played. Firstborn joined them for the last half hour. I sketched garden plans.

Once we were back to the ranch it was time for lunch (everyone is ALWAYS EXTREMELY hungry after ballet). We had This & That leftovers (pork loin, clam chowder, etc) . I ate and worked. Little Queen was rather fussy and tired. The children cleaned up the lunch table while I took The Cranky One up for her nap. Quiet time for everyone. I washed dishes, hung diapers to dry, fed the hens, and picked up around the house as fast as I could. Also replied to a couple of emails and made a phone call.

Mother's Helper arrived shortly after Quiet Time and The Cranky One, thankfully, was ready for a good time. Mother's Helper made fairy with the girls while I taught a couple of music lessons. Finished. Changed a diaper. The Prof walked in to teach more lessons as the children & I ran out of the house. A short practice/warm-up before the opening game of the baseball season. Got the girls hot dogs (shame on me). Hung around at the diamond watching the game until The Prof arrived and then raced back home for the first night of a new childbirth class. Whew! Picked up a few more things, got materials prepared for class, checked e-mail and then just tried to take a few deep breaths so as to give the impression that I was very relaxed and centered for teaching class.

Class went well. The Prof and the scholars came home late and grabbed a snack. Everyone was still up when I finished around 9. I heard all about the game. (Firstborn's team lost) Off to bed went the Dear Family. I grabbed a snack, transferred photos from my camera, sent some e-mails, blogged and now I am off to bed.

Friday 23 Feb 07

Firstborn:

• Great job on math test (Epsilon 16), only one wrong!
• Took his Latin test today...pretty good, but more review is needed. I've got to remember to keep that CD going daily.
• Put together (wrote) a little report on Science & Technology in the middle ages which will be presented tomorrow evening
• Listened to a big and rather exciting portion of Beowulf
• Practiced Menuet

Sunshine:

• Started a new Alpha math lesson today. Although she is nearing the end of the book, I feel we need more drill before going on to Beta. Trying to find fun ways to do this.
• Listened in for most of Beowulf
• Copied pictures
• Handwriting
• Weaving and sewing projects underway

Rosebud:

• Not really into the work scene today. I think she did the hundred's board and had a music lesson. Sunshine apparently taught her to weave and sew. The girls are trying to make their stitches "march in a straight line."

We finished "Little House in the Highlands" tonight; everyone enjoyed the final chapter immensely. Sunshine learned that we have a napkin folding book and was trying out some creative napkin folds...this would be great work for the Chef's Apprentice!

Firstborn had baseball practice tonight is beaming shyly because he is one of four on his team being considered for the pitcher's mound. The Prof & I are trying not let on how nervous we are for him.

We didn't get out to the yard to take measurments today as planned because it was drizzly. Actually, the children still spent plenty of time out there playing, chasing the chickens, catapulting and even eating lunch. Almamater didn't feel like going out in the damp weather, though. Firstborn is gathering up lots of treasures left behind by the roofers who completed their work today (nails, screws, metal discs, rubber bands, etc)

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Lunch: This & That...PB&J on tortillas, leftover french fries, leftover burrito, popcorn, carrot sticks

Dinner: Baked Tilapia with a corn meal breading, bread, salad and radish samples from the farmer's market

Thursday 22 Feb 07

The good news is that there has been a LOT more schooling going on than this blog would indicate. We have had a steady week of work with a nice balance between independent work and together projects.

Firstborn:

• has been working on his baseball album. He is adding short biographies and drawings of some of the great players
• finishes off 2-3 pages of math each day, mostly well done. Mostly he forgets to reduce those fractions! He took the test today and we'll correct it tomorrow. We'll be taking a break soon from the indoor schoolroom and enjoying the outdoor schoolroom. In March, backyard landscaping and gardening will take the place of our regular school day. Tomorrow I would like Firstborn to take some measurements of the backyard so we can put it on graph paper and start planning.
• italic cursive is going well; he is almost done with the current workbook
• the catapult is complete! I have to blog about this over at Soul of the Home
• we are finally approaching the Late Middle Ages, pressing on through the Hillyer text with bonus info from the Kingfisher History Encyclopedia and some supplemental texts. Firstborn is reading If All the Swords of England which tells the tale of Thomas Becket. Today we caught up on filling in the big wall timeline as it was several centuries behind.
• will prepare a narration for us on Science & Technology in the Middle Ages.
• Completed a copywork page from Learning to Love God...I'll have to take a look at it tomorrow

Sunshine

• seems to be enjoying our history studies and trying hard to keep up...
• plugging away on math and handwriting pages each day
• still doing the self imposed daily copywork from Learning to Love God. Her handwriting is improving by leaps and bounds; finally getting better control over smaller size writing.
• really enjoys reading from her children's bible. She does this during school time and free time.
• reading, art, and dance are her current loves

Rosebud

• does the hundreds board daily and can now put it back on her own! Also, adds with the red & blue rods fluently; I think she is ready for the next step
• showed me this week that she knows her geometric solids perfectly
• wants to read, but just isn't quite ready yet; I need to look in the Montessori Read & Write book for inspiration on some more activities we might do. Meanwhile, we keep practicing the sandpaper letters and writing with the moveable alphabet
• in addition to these "pre-writing" activities, she likes to trace my writing of family names onto tracing paper; I am thinking of some little craft projects we might do with that interest
• looooves being the chef's apprentice; sets the table beautifully, though still usually forgets a thing or two
• plans to recite this little poem to the family tomorrow night:

There is nothing to fear
for Jesus is near;
His love is the light
that makes all things come right.

ALL of the children are enjoying Beowulf. I was so surprised today when I stopped reading at a real cliffhanger moment (Grendel's mother had just arrived to avenge the death of her son) and all three children pleaded with me to go on. Even 4 year old Rosebud-who I didn't even know was paying any attention, much less understanding, any of the tale. Nonetheless, we stopped. We have only one remaining chapter in Little House in the Highlands which will, no doubt, be read tomorrow. I am thinking of something more spiritual to read after that...saint story or the like, for our "lenten reading." Also, after Beowulf, we will read a few of the Canterbury Tales (retold for children in modern English). Firstborn was wondering about the Tales of Marco Polo (we read about him yesterday in history). Goodness, I know nothing about those; maybe the girls & I better stop at the library tomorrow during baseball practice to see if they carry anything pertinent.

Everyone had a music lesson or practiced their music assignments today. Very nice to hear that going on. All three are preparing for spring recitals; it will be Rosebud's debut at the beginner's recital and Sunshine's debut at the big program.

We need to start serious planning for the landscaping project. I do intend to keep a couple of subjects going during March, but hope to primarily get everyone working hard outside. Tomorrow I am going to get out our collection of gardening books, especially want to look the children's landscape books for some ideas. This year we want to try to grow the sunflower house. More on that later.

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Lunch: PB&J on Tortillas
Dinner: Black bean soup & bread,
except Alma can't eat them beans, so it for her it was Barley Soup w/ Carmelized Onions

Neighbor Courtney joined us. Fun!

Tuesday 13 Feb 07

This morning I had planned that we would cut classes and head out for some nature study. The weather, however, was a bit windier and cooler than I had anticipated. I convinced myself that we needed to stay in. We spent the next hour in the school room and, truth be told, I was so engrossed and frustrated with a computer project that I can hardly report what work the children accomplished during that time. I can say that I did not have any ultimate success with my project. After an hour my son observed that he didn't think anyone else would have tried so long to succeed on such a project (it is a family trait, believe me dear son, you will be blessed/cursed with this stubborn perseverance in time). I realized the whole thing was futile and we just had to get out.

We bundled up, did a couple of errands-including picking up some lunch-and finally arrived at our Botanical Garden destination. We all enjoyed a lovely hike along a different path than we usually follow.

In all fairness, I know that Firstborn did some math and Latin as well as some copywork this morning. Sunshine did complete a copy work project from yesterday and do a page or two of math.

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Lunch-McDonald's, bananas and cookies
Dinner-Carbonara (from Rachel Ray, again) another big hit with the whole family!, served with salad

Monday, 12 Feb 2007

We did have a pretty good finish to last week, I just couldn't spend time at the computer documenting it. So, fresh start today. Mondays are perfect for fresh starts anyway.

Firstborn:

• listened to another segment of Beowulf (we started this last week); originally I thought we would just read a bit of this to hear the poetry and language, but Firstborn is riveted by the story and begs for more every time I set the book down. I admit, I am really enjoying it, as well.
• three pages of a new math lesson... he watched the DVD alone, I'll have to catch up tomorrow with the new work
• Copywork from Learning to Love God

Sunshine

• Two pages math
• Copywork from Learning to Love God (I should mention that she copies the scripture verse AND the picture when doing this work)
• Selected and began memory on new poem
• Listened in on Beowulf
• Practiced ballet

Rosebud

• Completed hundreds board (I randomly pointed to numbers today & found that she really does know most of them without hesitation!) She so very much wants to start on the addition board
• Worked on her alphabet book (I write a large cursive letter on a blank page & she traces it several times with different colored pencils; we are making a complete alphabet book a few pages a day)

Rosebud was my Chef's Apprentice for the day, though we didn't end up cooking anything too interesting. Tonight we all worked hard on St. Valentine's cards and little gifts for the bowling party. Sunshine is making little sachets and Rosebud made suncatchers. Tomorrow Firstborn and I need to put together a Word Search or similar puzzle using St. Valentine related words.

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Lunch: leftovers from last night's potluck (meatballs, sheherezade, rice in pepper sauce)
Dinner: Quesadillas--always a hit!