Painting the Alphabet B

This is last week's attempt at painting the alphabet, and naturally, we chose "bird" for B. I'm very pleased at our work, and VERY pleased that we have done it twice! For all our emerging skills, I am loving what is coming from the newly-turned four year old and the five year old. Aren't those two little birdies at the bottom charming???

One of my gardening "wishes" this year was planting pumpkins...

...but it never happened. Instead, God provided an entire field of pumpkins for us to glean...right across the road!

It's safe to say, that I have more pumpkins than I know what to do with.

Not to be overlooked is the opportunity for training good habits...the little girls spent hours washing these tiny beauties. A vintage tub, warm soapy water and a couple rags equals mommy's helpers staying very busy. 

Spending time today with a young mother of three, reminded me again of the importance of what Charlotte Mason calls "habit formation".  It is so important to use the early years to establish the formation of good habits~attitude, obedience, manners, cleanliness~ and before you and I are tempted to say we've failed, just determine to start again tomorrow. Fridays are cleaning days around here, and I'm determined to have ALL the bathrooms cleaned, AND make my bed!

Enjoy the blessings of tomorrow~

Kathy 

Little Farmers Can Paint!

Charlotte Mason has been my inspiration all my homeschooling years. That being said, I haven't mastered the atmosphere or content like I would have expected by this time in our education, though each summer I determine it will be different. The ideas and accumulation of supplies come easy, but the execution of the plan is where I fall off the wagon. Art is one of those areas...

I've wanted to do watercolor painting and nature journals FOREVER, and today...

WE DID IT!

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Using helpful tips from Pam, I was able to "see" what I needed to buy and "see" what I needed to do. Our watercolors represent the work of artists ranging from momma all the way to the three year old (soon to be four). Kind of impressionist, isn't it? (bottom right *wink*) I purposed to make it short and sweet and not labor over our work. Overall, I consider it a success, with only one older child moderately resentful (I think it is an expression of personal disappointment) and two in tears! I believe each attempt will be more satisfying. Soft classical music or hymns playing in the background will also be enjoyable in the future.

So many times I get bogged down waiting for the perfect time, or day, or situation, or how about..".as soon as the house is picked up, then I can do that". It just so happens, that my farmhouse is never quite completely "picked up", and those farm chores are just never quite done. So whether it is painting, nature journals, or some other activity, just try to start, knowing that you can "tweak" it along the way.