teeny weeny beanies

the flowering bean plant has actually begun to develop little beans! what a contrast this fresh green plant is against the frozen winter outside.
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i think these little pods will not produce any red kidney beans inside them since there have not been any bees buzzing around to pollinate them. but aren't they cute?! it has been so encouraging watching S carefully cultivate his plants and seeing them grow on the kitchen window sill.

everyday gift: watching my young botanist

wordless (well, almost) wednesday

flowering bean plant, S's science project

everyday gift: something green in january

one-room school house circa 1908

last week i was one of the drivers for the field trip S's class took to a living history school house. i was so glad for the chance to go and B got the bonus of coming along as well. aside from the cold dreary weather, it was a really fun day. the kids each took on a character, an actual person who lived and breathed and went to school in a one room school house in the early 1900's. they read biographies of their character and played the part for the day, even dressing as they might have dressed, well, as close as our modern day closets would allow. it was a wonderful experience.

the school house is set in lovely rural iowa, complete with a winding stream and cows grazing next to a corn field.

a fire was blazing in the stove and we welcomed its warmth!

children at attention as the school master spoke...notice the freshly cut switch on his desk? fortunately, he didn't need to use it! :o)

mr. crow, the school master talks with his pupils

"elmer miller" prepares for a day of school

sweet girls!

the school master played the part so well, he was warm and witty with the kids, but still very stern as a proper school master should be.

everyday gift: living history lessons

a step back in time

after the field trip to the living history school house, S's teacher, mrs. m treated the class to ice cream cones at the Wilton Candy Kitchen which was like stepping back in time. they still serve homemade ice cream and make their own turtle candies. the owners were so gracious as they served our bunch their cones. it was the perfect ending to a really fun day.

S's 5th grade class at the Wilton Candy Kitchen




even as we ate our treats, the locals stopped in to say hello, a little surprised by the crowd, "oh, i see you're busy, i'll be back in a while, save me a scoop, will ya?"

i do long for simpler times, when you could get a cone for a nickel, girls wore braids and calico dresses, and you'd take a spin on the stools at the soda fountain...

everyday gift: hand dipped ice cream cones

first day

C and S, accompanied by B heading in to school on the first day, backpacks laden with new notebooks and folders, fresh pencils, rulers, and markers.

a smile from S in his first classroom... (that was not also his living room! )

i wanted to post something eloquent and inspiring about the new school year here, but at the moment, i have too many conflicting emotions. i am praying that the situation that caused so much aggravation last year for C will have subsided. i am praying that we made the right decision for S, who was thriving at home and reluctant about being at school. i am proud of his courage and poise in the face of an uncertain situation. and i will miss both of them this school year. so we face a new year of changes and challenges. and i am thankful that God goes with us each step.

everyday gift: rising to the challenges of the new year

bibopoly

the last week of school C was very evasive when i asked him about his homework. he said he had a few finals to study for and something else, but don't worry about it, he's got it under control. and then a sly grin. (he never could hide when he was up to something!) up in his room he was hard at work on the mystery, coming downstairs every now and then for a glue stick, construction paper, now sculpty clay. thurday it was finally unveiled! in lou of a final exam in Bible class, the teacher allowed them to do a final project of their choice. C chose the project, but admitted later that the test would have taken a lot less time! his creation: BIBOPOLY! he amazes me sometimes!

you start the game on the first square, where else but Genesis; and free parking is "the sabbath: free resting"; instead of going to jail you go to the "lion's den"; hot properties are jericho, bethleham, and jerusalem; instead of community chest and chance you draw cards from "covenant" and "commandment".

the game markers are the ark of the covenant, the commandment tablets, the Bible, and a staff/snake.

everyday gift: incredible creativity