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April 20, 2008

Sunday Afternoon Family Ramblings

Summer is slowly creeping in. . . We've had afternoon showers recently, and soon it will be hurricane season. The weather is warm enough for the boys to swim, the pool is clean, and they have new goggles. Still, the water was chilly enough that they didn't stay in long today.

Hubby has moved his thesis writing to the back lanai. Each day he sets up the desktop on the patio table and writes and thinks and is energized by the fresh air and sunshine. It's still cool enough to have the doors open and the A/C off. (Thanks to the Florida summer, our electric bill trebles when the A/C is on.)

Yesterday the two younger boys and I went out and about. The best part was a trip to B&N. The boys had gift cards from my brother and they had such fun looking and looking and trying to decide. C7 was immediately drawn to the bird watching kit. I thought the allure was simply the binos included, but he's been looking up birds in the guide and sitting still and watching the birds in the woods. R9's favorite choice was a sketchbook, so he's been accompanying C7 and sketching birds and other things he's observing. Ahhh. . . I love delight-led learning, especially when it mirrors my own educational ideals! They also bought books on mammals, the wild west, archaeological treasures and wildcats. We ran a few routine errands, too--bought a new mouse for the laptop (the touchpad is wonky), visited the bread store, the produce market and shared a treat from Starbucks.

But I've traded buying coffee when out for the yummiest coffee at home. I'll just bring my own when I leave the house. I finally bought a burr coffee grinder (a Christmas gift, thanks to my parents.) Fresh ground, fresh roasted Old Bisbee coffee--nothing is better!

With birthday money from my grandmother, I bought a birdfeeder and seed. Unfortunately, where I wanted to hang it is too close to the lanai screen, and hence a squirrel feeder more than a bird feeder. We'll put it in the front yard, instead.

I've planted morning glory seeds and we'll see if my notorious black thumb doesn't kill them. The boys will be mulching and raking and trimming the hedges this week. Our front porch has become the favorite play spot for the boys and their neighborhood friends. Somehow they still need daily reminders that books and flip flops and toys can't stay out on the porch overnight.

We went to church this morning and it was worshipful and welcoming and good. I'm thankful. As much as we value the church in the community and the importance of corporate worship, it's been hard to integrate into a church since arriving back in Florida. Why that has been is. . . complicated. . . but through it all we've seen God's faithfulness. It is restful, though, to be in corporate worship now. It hasn't always been so.

We had bowls of fresh fruit for lunch yesterday, Florida fresh blueberries and cantaloupe. Today we shared artichokes for a midday snack. The fresh produce just tastes so good. A friend told me about how a local gentleman developed the Earth Box for fumbling black thumbed gardeners like me. Remembering Natalie's salsa garden last year and knowing how my boys will each tomatoes and cucumbers and peppers and onions raw, when they are available, has me tempted to try my hand at container gardening on our lanai. The sensibility sets in and I think, maybe next year.

Beyond the weather and the birds and the produce, I can sense a change of seasons coming. Not just in our environment, but in our lives and future. I don't know in what ways, just that seems thing to be warming up and getting ready to turn into something new.

Posted by TulipGirl  |  06:05 PM|  TrackBack (0)  |   Words

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Changes of seasons are so invigorating. We're heading into Autumn/Winter here of course but it's still nice to have that change. It's refreshing! How's your DH going?

Posted by: Rachel at April 20, 2008 07:44 PM

I'm excited to sit and read about your nature study from Ambleside Online. This homeschooling thing is pretty new to me as my little ones are just now approaching the official start of it all. Thanks for the link! This was a cozy and delightful post. A simple afternoon that must have been so refreshing. Hope you all are feeling well these days...

Posted by: Gina at April 21, 2008 12:30 PM

I put up a bird feeder a few weeks ago. It became a cat feeder unfortunately. The neighbourhood cats circle it and once I saw one eat a bird. Poor thing.

Posted by: Sheila at Dodging Raindrops at April 21, 2008 01:46 PM

Bridal Consultant Daughter #1 says burr grinders are the only way to go. She says my blade grinder is inferior. Nevertheless, inferior grinder or not, fresh ground, home brewed coffee is the best! Cheaper too! Even better.

Posted by: Gail at April 21, 2008 06:05 PM

What a fun, "newsy" post :)

Aliza

Posted by: aliza gingrich at April 23, 2008 10:04 AM

one of the silver linings of my new orleans treks has been the milder fragrant weather...kumquats on the kitchen window tree and a nicely ordered backyard. enjoyed hearing about your season change. mk

Posted by: maureen kuehne at April 23, 2008 02:26 PM

Rachel, Hubby is having good days and hard days. . . Overall, good. We've been weighing various options right now. . . the focus is on him getting healthy. But life is livable and nothing health-wise is urgent right now. Thanks for asking (and for your prayers!)

Gina, while we haven't latched onto one educational theory/approach/ideology, I find a lot of mommy-and-schooling inspiration from Charlotte Mason. I recommend getting Karen Andreola's Charlotte Mason Companion.

Sheila, we've been having less success with our birdfeeder. The squirrels ate all the seeds in two days, and we haven't seen many birds around it. The empty feeder looked desolate in the front yard, so we're going to put it in the back yard again--even if it is feeding squirrels.

Gail, if you haven't tried coffee from Old Bisbee Roasters--mmmmmmm. . . sooooo good! That's how I kicked my costly Starbuck's habit. Buying good beans and making my own at home. And personally, I'd hint to said daughter that a burr grinder would make a lovely mother's day present. *grin*

Aliza, I just love the pics and news you post, too. *grin*

Mom. . . *huuuug*

Posted by: TulipGirl at May 10, 2008 12:13 PM