My Glasgow Granny would often say 'Stop yer bletherin,' if we were babbling on about something, but I'm using the word here in the more positive sense of 'a lengthy chat between friends.' 🙂 This is a look back at the month that's been that will include books (of course!) but also other topics of … Continue reading January Blether
Handicrafts/manual/life skills
Reading, Thinking, & Domesticity #7
I'm working on an applique quilt and have been chugging along quite nicely. I've almost finished a fourth block. The biggest hold up for me is choosing material. I have stacks left over from other projects but trying to choose complementary fabrics is so time consuming! I started a monthly sewing/craft day last month and … Continue reading Reading, Thinking, & Domesticity #7
Reading, Thinking, & Domesticity #6
It's been a while since I've written one of these posts. I always find it difficult to come up with a title unless I'm writing an obvious 'book review' as I like to go off on tangents. So 'Reading, Thinking, & Domesticity' it is as it is a bit of everything. I've been listening to … Continue reading Reading, Thinking, & Domesticity #6
A Charlotte Mason Education: the ‘extras’ that sometimes get left out in high school
The week before last I had a phone call from the Symphony Manager of the orchestra my daughter is a part of. Her son and two friends had entered an Eisteddfod competition and the cellist had just pulled out due to sickness. She asked if Miss 17 could play in his place - the only … Continue reading A Charlotte Mason Education: the ‘extras’ that sometimes get left out in high school
It’s Friday #5
We're on to the final book in James Herriot's memoirs, Every Living Thing. I started reading his series of books...I don't know when, but it was years ago, and this is the final one. Today we read about a cat which sounded a bit like our boy: '...he was always there, seated upright and majestic … Continue reading It’s Friday #5
Growing Resilient Children
I was talking with my eldest son, his wife and another young couple a few weeks ago. All four of them were youth leaders together about twelve years ago. They were reminiscing about some of the things they did back then and how much it has all changed since.One of the changes is the over-regulation … Continue reading Growing Resilient Children
November Notes
Next month Brona @ This Reading Life will be hosting a Rumer Godden Reading Week to mark the author's birthday. It will take place from Saturday 4th December to Sunday 12th December 2021. Two of her books I'm thinking of reading are 'China Court' and 'The Black Narcissus.' I especially liked her novel In This … Continue reading November Notes
The Good, the Sad and the Beautiful of 2020
It's been raining here all week, the very opposite of this time last year. Last January we had 'unprecedented' bushfires in Australia which destroyed 3,094 homes, 2,439 of those were here in NSW. 33 people died, 9 of whom were firefighters. 6.7% of the state of NSW was burnt, the total area possibly the largest … Continue reading The Good, the Sad and the Beautiful of 2020
Charlotte Mason Highschool: Handicrafts
 "Creativity is not just for artists. Subjects like design and technology, music, art and drama, are vitally important for children to develop imagination and resourcefulness, resilience, problem-solving, team-working and technical skills...These are the skills which will enable young people to navigate the changing workplace of the future and stay ahead of the robots, not … Continue reading Charlotte Mason Highschool: Handicrafts
'A gauntlet with a gift in 't.'
 ‘God answers sharp and sudden on some prayers, And thrusts the thing we have prayed for in our face, A gauntlet with a gift in 't.’    Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)   I think we’d all agree that we are in challenging times. I remembered this poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning the … Continue reading 'A gauntlet with a gift in 't.'
journey & destination 