Secular Charlotte Mason

I am so very thankful that this is a holiday weekend!!! I need just one weekend with no schoolwork in sight and this is it. Regardless of whether the kids are behind in their work or not we are taking the weekend off since this is the kids' and Bassman's absolute favorite holiday of the year. Samhain tonight and tomorrow, Halloween tomorrow night and Day of the Dead on Sunday. Plenty of parties, crafts and cooking happening around here this weekend. Yay.

Even though we didn't get as much done today as intended it still was a good day...because it was Monday. Unlike with traditional school and the traditional workweek, our Mondays tend to be pretty laid back even though they are a full day of school work and house work for us. There's just something nice about starting the week off fresh. Monday morning and early afternoon seem so open to possibility; unlike Fridays, which are my least favorite day of the week. I am always tired on Fridays and by noon I can usually tell how far behind we are and exactly how much school and housework has to been completed over the weekend.

Today was a good Monday because....

even though they didn't get all of their work done, the kids had good attitudes and did make some progress in subjects we haven't had time for lately

it was a beautiful rainy day full of bright colored leaves just outside my window

the new color in my library/living room (where we spend most of our time) is bright and cheerful on rainy days instead of the dark grey feeling it use to have

the chickens coop is finally escape proof

preteen girly Halloween planning can be highly entertaining

The Story of Charlotte Mason arrived today from England--earlier than the CM books I ordered from here in the USA

the migraine of 4 days has finally completely gone away

one of my best friends called and we had a lovely chat

the girls and I went to Powells and arrived just in time for me to listen to the author of Marley and Me; which KodyGirl had read over summer

I feel optimistic (unlike most of last week when I wondered 1st, why I had children and 2nd, why I homeschool them rather then sending them to boarding school lol)

Somehow this post sounded much more profound in my head earlier in the day before I got all tired from herding cats (uh I mean parenting)

Whoo hoo. The rainy season has begun. Must mean that Halloween and Thanksgiving are just around the corner. Amazing how the rainy season coincides with the yummy food holiday season. Pumpkin pie, apple pie, mulled cider or wine, hearty soups, warm bread.....  Mmmm. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Bet we have our first fire of the season this week as the mornings and evenings are a bit cool. Warmed cider, popcorn, some kids and a good book....what more could we possibly need.

This is what I am grateful for today.

Wow. I haven't posted one of these in a long time. Not since before Bassman's sabbatical; which ended today. Here goes....

1. Autumn. I love this time of the year. Like Bassman said, my nesting instincts always kick into overdrive this time of year. Just in time to make lots of yummy stuff without turning the house into a sweatlodge.

2. That my chickens are still happy, healthy and producing more eggs than ever. I think it's the Barred Rock runt that lays the nicest and most eggs. She's a keeper!

3. That my living room is now so warm and welcoming. Even Bassman admits that the yellow tones really work in this room. It'll be fabulous come the dark months of the rainy season which is about to begin.

4. My cats. I just love them and so does everyone else in the family.

5. My friends who told me about Charlotte Mason in the first place. Thank you Lisa and Lynn! The CM philosophy has really enriched my family's lives.

6. The interesting feedback I get about the website. I get some interesting emails from interesting people. It's what makes this all worth it and keeps me going. Now if only I could get more efficient at my writing so I could actually complete something. 

7. That I live near Powells and, therefore, have easy access to great books and the people who write them.

8. That I live in the Pacific Northwest. My hubby is a Midwesterner at heart but I feel like I have always been destined to live in the soggy PNW. I was so happy to be home after spending time in the Plains and Midwest states. It truly is like living in a different country out here on the left coast.

9.My personal library. I know I shouldn't be so materialistic but it just fills my heart with happiness to see my beautiful books day in and day out. I always loved the "library" my mom had when I was in high school. It was a joy to peruse her shelfs looking for something to read. Funny how some of the books recommended for Drakon via Trisms are the very same books that my mom had and that fostered my own love of ancient history. It'll be fun to read through them with him.

10. Life. Even on bad days I am thankful to be alive and even more thankful that I haven't had to undergo many of the hardships that people I have known had to experience (ie. escaping the Khmer Rouge or the Taliban). Life is Good is my motto!

Friends. I have awesome friends who totally enrich my life and keep me sane. It was nice seeing everyone at Village last night. Looks like it is going to shape up to be a nice year. I'd never be able to homeschool all three levels, elementary, middle school & high school, this year without my friends support and actual help (yay for swapping parent-in-charge days and carpooling).

Family.  It is so very nice to have family that the kids can go visit on their own. I suspect Drakon is revelling in his current indpendence at Grandpa's house.

Nice weather!!!! I feel positively human this week. Temps above 85 degrees are not my friend! They trigger every illness I have and make me supremely grumpy.

Teenagers. While you couldn't pay me a million dollars to be one again I must admit that I find my teens (or nearly teens) and their friends to be highly amusing. It is also wonderful to see them starting to step out into the world on their own more and more with each passing year. I love kids that are old enough to utilize the bus system without me. Drakon is happy that his social schedule no longer has to rely on my being available to drive him everywhere.

Sabbaticals. Bassman's 10 week sabbatical started this week.  It's been so nice to be home together; esp. since it seems like we've hardly seen each other this summer. There's been a lot of tag-team parenting this year as we each pursue our own interests.

Happiness. The entire family has had a good 6 months and it sure feels good to know that everyone is genuinely happy with their lot in life these days. You can't really ask for much more than this.