A Little Obsession With Painting

It's been four days since Monday and another three days until the next Monday and yet I'm choosing today to participate in Joanne's Make it New Monday.  This month she talked  about giving up on perfectionism so perhaps waiting to join her link-up on Friday is my nod to that!

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This summer I've had a little fascination with paint.  Like, if it has a neutral surface, it better look out!

It all started with my kids' wooden picnic table that we keep on our back deck.  Maddie received it as a gift years ago, back when we lived in a town house and had only three kids.  The spring  we moved, three years ago, I painted it white, but the table had seen better days. 

Then our dog used it as a chew toy when he was a puppy and we considered throwing it away, but the kids still enjoy sharing a snack around the table so I decided to give it a makeover.

I asked Brian to replace the wood on the benches and then I got to work with my paintbrush.  I bought a pale aqua paint to do the base of the table and then I brushed leftover chalkboard paint (from another project) on the top to make it part-snack table, part-art table.

Is it perfect!  Absolutely not.  If you look closely, you can see where, despite painter's tape, the black paint smudged into the aqua paint.  Plus the animals have already started chipping away some of the paint near the bottom of the legs. 

It's a lot prettier, though, and the kids love it!

Next my eyes turned to a wreath on my living room wall.  It was one of those things that hung there so long I didn't notice it anymore.  It had red berries and looked pretty at Christmas, but wasn't really a color I love or wanted to use in my house.

I considered giving it away and I considered putting it away until Christmas, but on a whim I bought a can of spray paint.  

The wreath didn't take the whole can of paint, though, so I started hunting for another surface.  I've always thought our plain-Jane folding chairs were a little boring.  We keep them in a closet and bring them out for extra seating at parties, but they certainly aren't homey.

A can-and-a-half of spray paint later, they still are not kind to the behind, but at least my folding chairs are cuter.

Speaking of chairs, I went to a yard sale a few weeks ago of a couple who was selling the entire contents of their house.  By the time I arrived, most of the furniture was gone and what remained was a little overpriced.  I sifted through the contents of the garage, though, and purchased a $2 chair that was dirty and had paint splattered on the seat. 

I brought it home and gave it a good douse with the hose.  With a combination of soap and water, a Mr. Clean Eraser, and a bit of elbow grease, I removed the stray paint drops from most of the chair.  Then I spent several morning hours priming (1 coat), painting (2 coats), and staining (2 coats) the seat of the chair.

The best part? The primer was left over from a long-ago project  and the paint was left over from the kids' picnic table! 

This beauty now has a place in our living room in front of our built-in bookcases. The kids think it doubles as a kitchen stool.

Next up in my painting line-up?  An end table I bought for $5 that wants to make its home in our dining room...or maybe the wrought iron basket I found in our shed last weekend...

How Do You...Plan a New School Year? {Part 1}

 

{The links in this post are Amazon affiliate links, but opinions are always my own.}

How do you plan what you want to teach and learn in a new school year?

In the original run of this series in 2012, I answered a similar question.  Click here to see how my school decisions are easier after an annual 20-minute conversation with my kids.

This time I'm going to focus on the more nitty-gritty aspect of planning.  I am in the throes of planning for our school year that begins in August.  Someone asked me recently how I decide what to teach each year since we do not follow a prescribed curriculum. Our learning is very book-heavy.  We don't use many textbooks, but the majority of our resources are the scads of books that we own or borrow from friends and the library.

So how do I choose and narrow down what we read or study each year? 

Often I go on a whim. If one of my children expresses an interest in a topic, I explore the option of making it count for school credit. A few years ago Gavin started asking lots of questions about the planets so I chose astronomy as our science topic for the following school year.  The next year we devoted to learning about mammals because that is Maddie's special interest.  We used The Burgess Animal Book for Children and it fits our needs so well that this year we are focusing on North American birds using The Burgess Bird Book.

I follow the same process for art and music.  If my mom raves about a book she used or I read about a product on a homeschool blog that piques my interest, I look into it for our family.  This year, I decided my Lego-obsessed boys would probably benefit from the study of architecture, and when a fellow-blogger recommended Frank Lloyd Wright for Kids: His Life and Ideas (with 21 Activites), I made that my jumping off point and I planned our art credit around other architecture books I could find at the library.

Our study of history is a bit more pre-determined.  We are slowly studying history in chronological order.  We began with Creation two years ago and have worked our way up to the time of Christopher Columbus.  We have used a combination of resources: The Mystery of History, Streams of Civilization, Genevieve Foster books, literature set during the era, and a book list I compiled from what was available from my library. With history, the topic of study does not deviate but the way we chose to study it is always open to change.

Next Wednesday, I'll share how I find (and remember!) all the unique and unusual books we use to fuel our eclectic homeschool days.

How do you prepare, think, and plan for a new school year?

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My How Do You...? series is back for only a few more weeks.  Is there anything you want to know?  Leave a comment here or on my Facebook page or send me an e-mail.  I'd love to hear from you.

In the meantime, you can browse the archived index of past topics.

On Worry, Schedules, and School Anxiety

I love our summer break from school. I know people who rave about their year-round schedule, but for me, summer is a time to regroup.  I spend many of summer's days thinking about what I want to accomplish in the next year, what needs to stay the same, and how we can do things differently.  I enjoy choosing new curriculum. I scour the internet for deals and make library lists.  I dream during the summer.

But I also worry during the summer.  My mind whirls in all direction and I lay awake at night thinking.


I get scared.  I wonder if I am too easy on my kids.  Do I let them skip over the hard things in an effort to make it easier on me?

Then I fear that I'm too hard on them and don't show enough patience, that I'm not a good teacher. I worry that, as they get older, school will take so much of our time that, to do it well, I'll neglect other areas of our lives.

Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart. Helping a son with pre-algebra while teaching another son to read is hard.  It's a fact. What if I focus on one child and neglect another?

And how,with out days so stuffed to the seams with living now, will we possibly have time to add school back into our day in the fall?

Trying to get my thoughts together, I started writing out a daily schedule for our fall term.  I penciled in notes of how to cover each subject.  Instead of doing every subject every day all year long, I'm rotating music, science, typing, and health through the days of the week: music on Monday, typing on Friday, etc. Other subjects I'm planning in chunks.  We'll spend all of August through October focusing on architecture for our art credit and then begin history for the year in November.

While putting my thoughts on paper and having a feel for how things will fit together next year does work to calm my brain, it also stirs up new questions.  Will this plan work?  What if it doesn't?  What happens if we miss a few days of school? Can I be flexible and let my kids enjoy learning or will I drag them down with my rigidity?

Then one morning last week during my morning devotions I opened my Bible to Psalm 20 and read :

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you... Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed.  He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

I immediately felt my load lighten.  This worry, this anxiety... it's unnecessary.  Horses or chariots might not be my downfall, but to me it can read  "Some trust in schedules..." or "Some trust in curriculum..." or "Some trust in planning everything out to the very minute..."

But we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Yes, it's a good idea to make a plan and it is wise to consider the options and be intentional to accomplish noble goals, but it's ultimately not in my hands, nor should it be.

Admittedly, I still harbor some anxiety about the coming months.  It's hard not to feel uncertain about the unknown, but I know I can abandon my worry and sleep in peace because I'm trusting Him to lead our days.

How Do You... Celebrate Independence Day?

How do you celebrate Independence Day?

Growing up, we attended a large family reunion every year.  We had a huge covered-dish picnic for lunch, went swimming, rode the motorboat, ate ice cream, and came home sunburned and exhausted.  We always begged my dad to take us to the fireworks in the evening and some years he complied.  As we got older, we added a new tradition.  On the evening of the 4th, we'd go out to dinner at an Italian restaurant and usually had the place to ourselves. When Brian and I started dating, we went to the fireworks every year together and brought my sister, Kati along, too.  Independence Day was a non-stop day of socialization and fun.

The 4th of July is lower key for our family of seven. Grass does not stop growing on holidays so Brian has to work every year unless it happens to fall on the weekend. The kids and I stay home and maintain our everyday routine.  When Brian comes home, we eat dinner (alas, rarely cook-our or picnic-y foods) and then go out for ice cream. 

This year may be different, though.  For the first time since he started his job over 11 years ago, there is a possibility that he will be off on the 4th this year. It's so iffy, though, that we have not made plans.  If he happens to be home, we'll probably do house projects or he'll cut our grass before continue on to our ice cream tradition. 

Though it blows bedtimes out of the water, we stay out late and attend a fireworks show every year.  Sometimes we have a kid or two watch from the car because the noise is too irritating for them.  Or sometimes it is like last year when Brian and I each held kids who whimpered and held their ears every time we heard a boom.  But it is our family tradition and it's how we like it.

This year, we read a fun book as a reminder of what we are celebrating on Independence Day.

Those Rebels, John and Tomby Barbara Kerley

How do you celebrate the 4th of July? 

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My How Do You...? series will end this month!  It's your last chance to ask a question! Leave a comment here or on my Facebook page or send me an e-mail.  I'd love to hear from you.

In the meantime, you can browse the archived index of past topics.

The Last Photo-a-Day... and a few outtakes

In June, I took my sister Kati's Photo-a-Day Challenge and posted my results about once a week.  This is my last installment of photos, captured during an weekend of family togetherness and tradition (which included a trip to Walmart and a thrift shop, among other places).

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I chose to complete the photo challenge with no words (aside from the daily prompt word), but I'm making no restrictions on these outtakes.

I took this photo for Favorite Color (Day 2), but I couldn't get the lighting the way I wanted it.  We use these Ball jars for drinking glasses.  They were a Christmas gift from my hubby and they make me happy.  

I took this photo to use for Childhood (Day 8), but the little wet footprint dried too rapidly in the sun. 

I considered this photo for Backyard (Day 15), but it is not my backyard, plus I didn't take the photo.  I'm just in it. 

I took a photo of this arrangement that sits on a table in my living room several times-- Flower (Day 12), Something Old (Day 18), Book (Day 20)-- but it never made the cut.

I mixed up the days and took this photo of our morning banana drink for Refreshing (Day 19) before I realized it was only Day 16! 

This was the runner-up for Green (Day 22).

I wanted to use this action shot for Hot (Day 24), but it seemed to illustrate the word sunny more than the word hot.

And finally, I wanted so badly to find a way to make these photos from our visit with our new niece (the kids' cousin) fit Cold (Day 25), but  this sweet little bundle was snuggly and warm-- not a bit cold.

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Mid-Year Goal Check-in

I love reading and writing about goals.  I  read other blogger's goals because it inspires me to new things, plus it's a nosy little peek into their lives.  Maybe that's just me.  I write about my own goals to track my progress, see what I still want to accomplish, and even evaluate if a goal still remains important to me.   I abandoned a few of my goals last year...without guilt!

The first half of the year has flown by and it's time to check my goal progress and, of course, include a few links and photos.  My goals are bulleted while my notes are written in teal.

• Experiment in the kitchen.  Try making my own granola bars, yogurt, vanilla, sourdough bread, and marshmallow cream.   

I accomplished much in the kitchen over the first quarter of the year and I included details and photos in my March goal post.  I still have not started my vanilla, but I continued to bake sourdough bread about once a week.  I've been eating sourdough toast and a boiled egg for breakfast almost every day for the past 2 months!  It's just so good. 

Speaking of  breakfast habits, Brian likes to eat a granola bar and a piece of fruit on his morning commute to work.  After sampling a batch of these granola bars, he declared them far better than store-bought bars so now I try to always keep homemade granolas on hand. The recipe makes a large batch and they freeze well.  Owen loves them, too, and we're experimenting with new add-ins.

• Eat at Chipotle.  (Am I the only one who hasn't been?!)

I crossed this goal off in February and I talked about it on the blog here, but on the evening before my half-marathon, I got to introduce Brian to Chipotle (and carb-load in the most delicious way!). 

• Run a 2-mile race with Brian.

I accomplished this goal back in February.  I shared a photo and details from the race here. 

• Train and run a 1/2 marathon. 

I did it!  I trained hard for over 3 months and then on a cool, clear morning, I ran my heart out.  I shared a few things about the race that surprised me and then I gave a full race report here. 

I had major let-down when the race was over.  It took time to get my bearings again and set new goals.  Still strong from my training, I decided to run a 5K in June.  I came in just short of my time goal of maintaining a 8:30 pace, but I did win 2nd place in my age category.

In the first half of 2014, I've run 465 miles. 

• Build my upper body and core strength.  Hold a plank for 4 minutes.

I started the 30 Day Plank Challenge  last November, but could not get past 2 minutes, 40 seconds.  Brian and I started The Challenge together in February, but we kept forgetting about it and lacked consistency.  At the beginning of April, I forgot.  At the beginning of May, I forgot again.  Sense a pattern?  Finally in mid-May, I decided to jump in and do it my own way.  I skipped the first few days of The Challenge because I already knew I could hold 20-30 second planks.  I also choose not to plank everyday, but I progressed with the ultimate goal of getting to day 30 and holding a plank for 4 minutes, 30 seconds.  

I'm happy to report that on Sunday, June 15, I finished the 30 Day Plank Challenge.  My arms were shaking and my legs were burning, but I did it.  Did you know you could break out in a sweat and get out of breath while holding perfectly still?  You should try a plank.

• Learn to change the oil in the van and learn to change the wiper blades, too.

This is a leftover goal from 2013 and I will do this someday! Hopefully. When it's not so hot outside.  I'm a wimp.

• Take each child out individually for a meal at a restaurant they would enjoy.

Accomplished...and I included a few details in my March check-in.

• Read 50 books-- not including books I read aloud to my kids or books we read for school.

I set this goal with the idea that I would read approximately 4 books a month, maybe 1 a week.  I underestimated myself and set this goal too conservatively.   By the end of June, I will have completed 46 books.

I've added 2 secondary challenges to my goal.  I want to read most of the books from the 2014 Sisters Book Challenge I'm doing with my sister.  I've read 5 of her 10 suggestions.  (It would have been 6, but my June choice was checked out of the library to someone else and I had to wait for it to come in.)  Plus I've chosen 4 classics I want to read by the end of the year.  I picked one to read each season and so far I've read To Kill a Mockingbird (can't-say-enough-about-it-excellent!) and The Secret Garden (pretty good).

• Develop a new chores system for the kids, including responsibilities for the two youngest.

I gave a brief explanation of our new system in my March check-in and went into greater detail in a separate post about chores. Our system has been in effect since January and it is working like a charm.

• Take (or have someone else take) new non-candid photos of my kids. 

My sister volunteered to do the photography for me and she did photo shoots on three Sundays at the end of spring. I chose a favorite photo of each of my kids and have them displayed on my blog's right sidebar. She shared some of her favorites on her blog if you want to take a look.  

Spring Photo Shoots-- Maddie and Alaine

Spring Photo Shoots-- Gavin and Ben

Spring Photo Shoots-- Owen

Now I need to print and frame some for my house. 

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At this mid-way point of the year, I've decided to tack on a few more goals.

• Plan our 2014/2015 school year and write a loose daily schedule.
• Focus on teaching kids to take initiative for their hygiene, school work, and responsibilities.
• Run a 5K and a 10K in the fall.

I'll do another goal check-in at the end of September.  Did you make any goals this year? How do you plan to accomplish them?

Another Photo-a-Day

This month, I am taking my sister Kati's Photo-a-Day Challenge and posting my results about once a week.  This is my fourth installment of photos, captured during an intensely busy week of activity at our house that included day camp and meeting a new baby niece/cousin!

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