Simple Woman's Daybook

 

FOR TODAY...  Feb 1st

Outside my window... pitch black. It is 5:40am as I begin to type. Oh yawn. Going to be warm and sunny all week should I be awake enough to notice. ; ) 

I am hearing... older sons preparing to take off. Machinery in back room.  Today would be a very good day for at least one contractor to finish. Yes? Let's hope. Hope with me. 

 I am thinking... about spectrums and malleability since reading Simplicity Parenting. He says q+s=d or something like that.   Premise being that given constant, unrelenting stress kids slide from personal quirkiness along the spectrum into disorders.  However, and this was the revelation, that by simplifying and removing or resolving one stressor after another that slide can and does go the other way.  I think I have actually seen that happen and it stunned me considering popular thought is that the brain is fixed and therefore either works just right or doesn't.  He insists that is not so. I believe him.  

I am thankful for... growth - bumpy as the road that leads there can be. 

I am wearing...  missing husband's big robe. Wish it was filled with him instead.  

I am reading... Making Children's Clothes This was the last of my recent Amazon purchases and WOW.  I saw it last fall at Hobby Lobby while waiting for the girls in class. I regretted leaving it there that night and ordered a copy.  Perfect. It is like the best of all those online tutorials bound into one book with nice sturdy paper patterns included. Very, very simple constructions made oh so cute with pretty fabric. All you need for an entire wardrobe for 1-5yr olds. (more girl than boy options)

From the learning rooms... oh, the singing! <g> And lots of rounds of The Three Bears. Waldorf and Five in a Row folks were right on this one.  Brendan and Tess preferred to hear this one many times last week rather than opt for new stories. His rendition at dinner was unforgettable. He truly knows this story on a deep and personal level. I can tell you we have not made a single 3 Bear craft, nor done any 3 Bear activities, made not a single 3 Bear food, nor any other thing but read together. It's enough. I promise. 

The printer has been sputtering and finally died.  This prompted our new notebooking approach this winter which has been unbelievably successful. We are using composition books into which the bigs transcribe the day's assignments. They proceed to complete them all on the following pages.  The next day we do it all again. That way there is one notebook for all the subjects and we can check their daily work quickly and easily. Aidan and Moira do have separate notebooks for history which is their subject for illustrating and writing more in depth this yr.  Per Laura Berquist we don't attempt to do that for multiple subjects.  

I am creating.... I wish I was creating tiny dresses from the book! Instead I dream about fabric projects while I am creating space and order which should open opportunities to do more creatively in time. In little snippets am mastering photographic textures.  Feels good to learn. 

Pondering these words.. "I am going to bed and when I wake up I am going to have soooo much fun!" - Tess last night. We should all be so certain of the new day's possibilities. 

From the kitchen...  aforementioned cupcakes  Wonderful feather-light Depression era flourless cake sitting in my kitchen this morning. Will be back with recipe.  

Around the house...  "Contractors and closet purging and painting oh my...Contractors and closet purging and painting oh my...."  I know this song by heart now. 

One of my favorite things...  baby girl's new word this last week - "Uh Oh" - heard when noticing things on the floor. Heard often, lol. 

From my picture journal...

 
 

see more daybooks at Peggy's

Comments

[Erin]

Kim

I'm intrigued by your notebooks, would love to know more:)

[Anne Kunkel]

Kim,

You always have the best kernels of helpful information...having 9 children and homeschooling, I've narrowed my blogs down to 2 and am so glad I stop by to see what's on your mind because Simple Parenting sounds like it's going to be quite helpful. I just ordered it. THANKS for sharing!

[gayly]

I stumbled across your site (not through daybook, though I am a daybooker too:) And was so encouraged as I checked it out. Thanks for sharing, I can't wait to stop back by when I have more time!
Blessings,
Gayly

[Carmen]

Kim, I'm curious about the book, Making Children's Clothes. I'm more of a quilter and knitter, but I thought I could challenge myself and make a dress for Tess. Is it good for a beginner who wants to sew clothing? I really like her book Sewing in No Time. Have you seen that one?

[StarrySkyRanch]

Carmen, these patterns are aimed towards the beginner. You can make the finished products look high end by fabric choice vs complicated directions. If you have seen any of the clothing tutorials at craft blogs online, these are very similar. They use heavy paper patterns with few pieces per item. She incorporates shortcuts and simple construction techniques. I am not the worlds most capable seamstress but I feel very confident about using these and teaching the girls with them.

[Carmen]

Thanks Kim! I am a total beginner. I'm excited. Thanks for writing about this book.