Allowing Advantages

Our homeschool this week has relocated to the coast near Bairnsdale. Here we have 6 days to learn from and with grandparents and a large property on which to run around, fly kites and ride bikes. And of course we're not far from the Gippsland Lakes and 90 mile beach - a treat for those of us who live inland.

Our decision to homeschool this year was certainly not made lightly and we value the need for solid literacy and numeracy instruction, but we also recognise the advantages that homeschooling allows - more camps, more excursions, more experiential learning. That's what we love and live for as parents.

Thus, it would be remiss of us to not take advantage of the freedom that homeschooling offers. We've set our lives up to be flexible with our time as much as possible, and learning while we travel is a big part of the appeal.

This week is our 'mid-term camp' to the beach - to enjoy the ending of Summer, to learn about other parts of our world , to really take experiential learning to its fullest definition.

Today we spent some time at the beach in Paynesville after some morning reading at the house. I made our 'word of the week' out of shells on the sand (our word IS shells) - to infuse some impromptu creativity into our learning and to help it stick in Rosie's mind. 

We then took the free ferry to Raymond Island, walked the 1.2 km Koala Trail and sighted 7 sleeping beauties up in the Coastal Manna Gums around the homes. I highly recommend this to everyone.

A lovely day of beachschooling had by all. Xx

A milestone on the road to wisdom

Last week we celebrated the much-anticipated 60th birthday of my Mum. And it was a wonderful weekend filled with hot, sunny beach mornings, chats with my siblings who had gathered with us for the big event, and lots of coffee. A new jigsaw puzzle was begun, just like the last time we all gathered two years ago, but unlike last time this one was BIG, and didn't quite get completed by the time we said goodbye.

The three cousins played together with gusto - sometimes in accord and sometimes with a distinct note of discord. But play that was filled with love nonetheless, no matter the outcome.

Flags were strung from the newly completed decking, the BBQ had a workout and new clothing was paraded around during a special birthday dinner one night.

And as for Noni (as my Mum is known by her granddaughters), well she was very relaxed and happy. It was a Noni that we loved sharing time with. A Noni who shone with the wisdom of time spent learning upon this planet. A Noni who has come of age.

Thank-you Mum, for a lovely weekend and a special glimpse of that wise woman that you are.

Xx

Pockets of Joy

The lovely garden at Bairnsdale - full of colour and growth and love at this time of year.

Miss Bethany with her first hair cut looking decidedly grown up.

Daisies.

Part of 'The Pergola' - lovingly crafted by Dad over the last few months - with some beautiful roses already in flower.

Sandcastle building in full-swing.

Artwork in the morning - a lovely way to pass some wet weather.

Our field trip to Mallacoota has been completed by a few days visit to Noni and Pa's farm near Bairnsdale. As with previous visits here the girls are in love with the flowers, the space, the 'new' toys, Oscar the dog and of course having their beloved grandparents so close at hand.

I, again, found myself retreating to the study to peruse Mum's large collection of good books (I still manage to find something new to read after all these years). And Ian found his way to two different mountain bike parks with his bike, and had a paddle (in his kayak) in one of the local rivers (during a storm) with a friend from China. A happy Ian came home from that training session.

It's been a relaxed but busy time for all except this Mama who has felt tired, flustered and in one of those dull limbo's in this early Spring season.

I was hoping for an upwelling of inspiration this week away that would outweigh the tiredness and allow me to move forward. Instead I'm feeling stuck and find myself waiting for the time when I feel better. 

Such a waste.

This time hasn't arrived yet and tomorrow we head home and so for this Mama the focus must be on each moment as much as possible. Low times are an important part of life and creativity. I choose to believe that this low, quiet, tired time is what I need right now.

Throughout this have been pockets of joy - building sand castles on the beach, painting with Rosie, a surprise gift from Dad (thanks) and a walk with just Mum (so rare these days). These are the things that this Mama holds on to from this trip. These will travel back with me to Mount Beauty tomorrow where the next chapter begins. Whatever that may bring.

Wishing you many pockets of joy in your days.

A week's inspiration on Father's Day

It's possibly the last ski of the season. On this Father's Day Ian has taken our two girls up for a kids cross country race and Bethany's first time on skis. Meanwhile I'm at work at the bakery...

This moment

A photo from the week. No words. Just a moment in time.

Our late Winter garden

Our garden is still mostly in its Winter hibernation. There are just a couple of signs that Spring will soon be upon us. And with these signs comes a little panic from this Mama - all those Winter jobs I was going to do in the garden - so many done but so many not yet started. I'd better get a-working...

The rocket is doing well (it always is it seems...)

Bethany helping to pick some lemons for cordial

She was determined to carry the heavy basket by herself

Trays of seedlings ready to plant out - I think I'm a little late with the broccoli but I'll see what happens

The wood shed - with front recently removed to increase air flow and because we like to look at our stacked wood.

The first miniature daffodils just peeking out of their hoods

Spring is coming but its still cold in the garden (notice my cowl - just finished in time for my birthday a couple of weeks ago).

This moment

A photo from the week. No words. Just a moment in time.

Winter Beauty

"O, wind, if Winter comes can Spring be far behind?"

- Percy Bysshe Shelley

 

 

There are many lovely, lovely things about Winter in Mount Beauty (many of which I've been delighted to write about before). Notwithstanding the close proximity of Falls Creek Ski Resort, there's the high, domed mound of Mount Bogong, Victoria's highest peak, below which Mount Beauty nestles. This peak, when covered in a blanket of Winter snow, feels like a loving protector to us as we go about our business on the cold days of this season.

Of course there are other little beauties also - the crispness of frost on the grass as we walk to school, the austere brightness of a Winter full moon at night and the daily lighting of the fire to keep us warm.

Lately we have celebrated Winter with a family night ski, a full-moon ski for Ian and plenty of snow play with friends, for soon the snow will leave us and Spring will be with us again. So for now we enjoy the shorter, colder days for what they are - a time for preparation in the garden, a time for fun in the snow and a time for those indoor crafts like knitting, baking and stitching.

 

This is the Winter beauty we love.

Nature girls

In the hub-bub of a busy school and work week its nice to take a break and spend some time playing in nature. Yesterday the girls and I took ourselves off to Mountain Creek for some painting, wandering and playing in nature in the sunshine. A lovely day for us all...

An Eastern Yellow Robin fluttered gracefully around for a while

In the 'cubby' we built

the girls in the cubby

On our nature walk - the river we followed flows off Mt Bogong and was bubbling along with snow melt

A cute hand-me-down skirt we got from a friend today - do you, like me, love little girls in skirts and dresses in the bush?