Starry Sky Ranch

trick or treat

Halloween came together last minute this year, much like it did last year come to think of it.  The week before we had no costumes and no plan b.  Within days of the big event on base we gathered all we needed.  Those gleeful little faces were worth every bit of the effort.  Oh they had a grand time. 

Trick or Treat is a really big deal on an overseas military base.  As is Fourth of July.  Folks go ALL out.  As in, there were lines in front of many houses.  The gate was backed up for a quarter mile.

There is a true Mayberry spirit here.  The children are applauded for their costumes and their thank-you's.  

That is my Superhero below....

We are asked to refrain from taking identifiable pictures of the base so that's all here.  But I am making one exception for the woman twirling flaming batons in her backyard.  Kid you not. I did say folks go all out. Don't try this at home folks. : ) 

Hope you have thoroughly enjoyed your weekend as well!

Soccer Snaps

The 2011 Fall sports season is officially over.  Brendan had his last game yesterday.  It's been a loooong couple months factoring in six kids in four sports, two out of country trips for Dad, two weeks in the hospital for me, and one broken arm on a boy.  But by golly, they finished strong despite it all.  

Brendan played soccer and played well, though admittedly his first love is football.  Since he is too little for the league here he did this instead and we would love to see him continue.  

And yes, his mama had him play the last game in hat and mittens.  It's darned chilly lately! Didn't slow them down any.  Finished with a win. : )  

unexpected places

"Take in as much joy as you can whenever and however you can.  You may find it in unexpected places."  - Letting Go,  Morrie Schwartz

I was going to blog goings-on lately.  There have been many to choose from. Just... didn't.   Instead I played with pictures. It is a major joy-bringer. I did a random book pull from my favorites shelf and opened to this line.  It reminded me why I bought the book years ago and how similar the messages in my home library are, despite the fact the authors are so very different. Morrie goes on:

"You can find joy in practically any situation if you are open to the experience of happiness. Even a mundane task such as washing dishes can be an occasion of pleasure if you let yourself marvel at the colors of the soapsuds or let the sight of a plate remind you of the last holiday you spent with family or friends. Whatever your activity, do it with care and consideration and awareness. If you focus on doing the best that you can under the circumstances without making yourself anxious or nervous about it you might find that what you are doing becomes a source of enjoyment and pleasure rather than just a chore."

Take in joy, however unexpected it may be.  

* more about Morrie here

Structured Homeschooling

This study was brought to my attention today which suggests that students following a structured homeschool curriculum perform better than their public school peers, even adjusting for income levels and other demographic considerations.  The kicker was that students who were identified as unschoolers (by their parents) scored significantly lower than both other groups.

  I hesitate to share because the subject tends to stir up strong feelings.  Granted, if you are an unschooler you may have no interest in test scores either today or in the future.  You may well have other valid yardsticks for success.  If you live or may live in a state which requires testing, if your child may re-enter a traditional school at some point, or if college is in the grand plan then studies like this one are worth investigating.

 Tests are inevitable in mainstream education and are good to measure very specific academic skills. (as opposed to overall intelligence)   Truth is, many families we know have experienced these same results in their own homes.  The kids who had more structure and traditional curriculum usually scored better than when those same families were more loosely schooling.  Contrary to the opinions voiced time and again, most students who have been in that boat will tell you it is not easy to make up in 3 or 4 months the content required to do really well on the SAT. 

There are a lot of ways to do this well and some years, some students, and some circumstances demand different approaches.   The words 'structure', 'success', 'perform', and 'curricula' are emotionally charged and highly subjective. So, no tomatoes please.  Just some interesting reading on a chilly fall day here. 

"Small Steps in the Right Direction"

Something on Michelle Duggar's blog caught my eye this week, her thoughts on discipline here.  She voiced some convictions I have had forever such respecting a child's privacy and dignity even when they are in the wrong:

<<When we see them do a kind deed we praise them publicly. We always say, “You deserve praise.” You praise someone publicly, but if you’re going to have to correct someone, you correct them privately. You take them aside and talk to them privately so that you don’t humiliate them in front of people.>>

When my big kids were little one of them had some sort of run-in with a friend while we were playing at their house.  I heard the friend's side. Then I took my little person aside to hear the other side.  Both had valid complaints, though my child had responded poorly.  I told him to apologize, cool down, and we would re-address when we were home.  I heard the friend's mother tell her child to "..stop complaining because his mom isn't going to do anything about it anyway."  : /  

There was a lot of emphasis on correction in those days and on being seen catching wrongdoing.  It was not considered good parenting to miss it.  (it may not be that different today actually) But even early in the parenting game I had a hunch that correction and redirection should be about the child and not about the audience. 

It was nice to see Michelle voice a better option:

 <<...if I see the little ones not being kind to each other, I will take them aside and I will deal with them and talk to them and have them work this out amongst themselves and learn to communicate and be kind to each other. And then when I see them being sweet and doing what’s right, I make a big deal!

I think biting your tongue as a parent and saying, wait a minute, hold on. Let me look for something good. Surely there’s one thing good that they did!  I’m going to find that one thing ...and  praise them for it. Even the tiniest little effort they made>>

As so often happens, I pulled How to Raise An Amazing Child off the shelf a few days later and found a similar sentiment. In the discipline section Seldin discusses teaching children to do the right thing versus focusing on mistakes by keeping simple house rules:

1) Treat everyone with respect.

2) If you use something, put it back correctly when you are done.

3) If you break or spill something, clean it up. 

4) Tell the truth and don't be afraid to admit when you make a mistake. 

These seem to be very good guidelines for grown ups too and he encourages same:

<<Model the same behaviors that you are trying to encourage in your child.  Consciously try to catch your child doing something right - reinforce and acknowledge even small steps in the right direction.

Teach your child to do things correctly and emphasize the positive rather than using insults and anger.  It's not always easy. >>

 It's not always easy.  I wish I could tell you I never lapse in these areas.  I can't, especially when we are busy, preooccupied, or otherwise not feeling our best.  But I can tell you I embrace that number four and try to admit my mistake and try again with number one.  If I can't model perfection, and I can't, perhaps I can model effort. 

(If you want to download an 8x10 inch copy of those simple house rules for the Montessori home you can right click the image and save.) 

 

Fall in a Farming Village

I walked with Alannah just before dark on a hazy evening the other day.  It's been a while and it almost felt strange.  Funny how such a short time out of your routine can change your life so much.  I am sure there are many implications there. 

When I was in the Netherlands as a teen they had a conviction that one should spend two hours a day outdoors.  At first glance that doesn't seem like much.  But when you consider your daily schedule, unless you are a farmer or bike to work, it rarely amounts to that. Sports practices help.  Walking helps. Still it is a challenge to swing that much time daily. 

There was an old man who lived in the farmhouse above and below. Very old. All last year he could be found sitting in the sun right under this window. From early spring until late into fall.  They put an umbrella up for him in the heat of summer.  One day as I came through the village we saw the ambulance and family out front.  He is gone now, but he spent his last days breathing in sunshine. The old farm wife is outside yet, puttering around the garden, feeding the chickens. Bustling. Her little harvest dries on the windowsill.  Her Tasha Tudor-esque profile and earnest hard work inspire me. 

 

I can date the eras in my life by my cookbooks. One of the early "Dayton cookbooks" is a vegan, Adventist, spiral bound church cookbook which I cannot remember having acquired. I rarely use it for cooking.  It's honestly not very good. But in the back there is a section called Nature's True Remedies prescribing Pure Air, Sunlight, Abstemiousness, Rest, Exercise, Proper Diet, Water.  

I am thinking again on those things this fall. 

Now I see the secret of making the best person: it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.  - Walt Whitman

I am not at my best when I am not outside regularly. Why I fight it and hole up here in my nest I don't know.  Cold, perhaps. I am assembling scarves and tights and gloves and determining to step out that door daily once more, for more than errands. 

a world of loveliness

I am sure it is a great mistake always to know enough to go in when it rains.  One may keep snug and dry by such knowledge, but one misses a world of loveliness. ~Adeline Knapp

Boating on the Ill River

From an afternoon in France. Funny thing to know about cruising down the Ill is that you may choose to have the standard radio announcer voice describing the sites or you may choose a pirate narration.  Mine chose.....Aye, aye, matey!

Most of this bunch above and below are mine. Nice man in the yellow hat not included. 

Also not my peeps but I so appreciated them coordinating their clothing with the boat and the umbrellas.  It's the little things that make me happy. 

7 Quick Takes

1.  Accept the Good

We watched Things We Lost in the Fire not long ago and I really liked it.  (caveat: adult themes involved, not everyone will love it)  There was something very engaging about Benicio Del Toro.  His great line in the movie was Accept the Good, because you are most certainly going to have to accept the bad.  That part is a given.  Into every life some rain shall fall etc.  The truth is pain and fear can make it nearly impossible to accept the beauty that is still there. It is all encompassing.  Some times in our lives it is a struggle to accept the good things still with us.  I disagree with some Christians who consider this ingratitude.  I think it is more like trying to hear a whisper in a snowstorm. It is a great skill, a great grace.  Sometimes it comes easily.  Sometimes it requires heroic effort.  

2.  Anne Rockwell

I smiled as I dropped Anne Rockwell books into the library bag this week.  I have been reading them to my children since the very beginning.  The simple retro-style  illustrations and honest, conversational text are endearing.  If you haven't picked one up in a while and you have some little ones at home, do.  

At the Supermarket

Show and Tell Day

Apples and Pumpkins

3. Adventures in Grocery Shopping

True story.  Happened as the bagger followed me to the car the other night:

Bagger (surveying my purchases): So, you guys havin' a party? 

Me: Uh no.  Just.... dinner.  We have 9 people in the house.

Bagger: Wow!  So, you have, like, 6 kids?  

Me: ?   (I explained we have 10 and 7 are here.  He still didn't catch his math.) 

Bagger: So how old is the oldest? 

Me: 25

Bagger: Wow, so, like, my age!  

Me: sigh : P <g>

4. And Southwest Asia

A better story. Brendan and Tess were discussing his catechism lesson.  Did God make all things?  Yes.  Because as Brendan explained God is King of the World.  Tess piped in that He was king of "Gern-a-mee" too. And Colorado.  Then they brainstormed some other places they could think of.  After which B chimes in... "and Southwest Asia!"  Yes, dear, and Southwest Asia.  He might possibly be a homeschooler. <g>

5. Thrift Finds

We scoped out a new thrift store this week.  Mostly a fact finding trip but I rarely leave empty handed.  Found some more salt glazed pottery, a large (18in) old crucifix and some kitschy painted pieces. 

When I came home from aforementioned grocery shopping husband had found places for each piece.  It's nice to have an thrifting enabler. <g>

6. Home Interiors

I found this site which hosts images of country style homes.  Some are too cute for my taste but I love the old pieces.  And I love that these are not professionally staged.  They are real homes.  

7.  Fence Friday

 

 

Gartenschau Octoberfest

Not to be confused with the Munich Octoberfest, this one is local and comprised of some 50,000 pumpkins made into the likeness of fairy tale characters.  Sorta like the Rose Parade - but with squash.  Are you feelin' this yet? 

It was a great day all around as you can see if you make it to the bottom of the post. The park has an enormous two story slide which everyone but me scaled many, many times.  They even got Dad up there.  Abbie did a run with Dad but then decided looking at gourds was safer.