Spring Happenings

 One of our fish had fry! We managed to rescue 2 and they are still alive and growing quickly. Notice the difference in size - the tiny orange fish at the top and the black and white ones near the bottom... this fry is nearly a month old and at least twice as big as he was when we discovered him. We're quite tickled that we've managed to keep fry alive this long (this is our second try).

Mom finished her blanket - finally! This was a project she started back in January on the way to Thailand for the SAFE conference. It's a really nice warm blanket for these couch days when the weather is not quite warm enough for no fire and not quite cold enough to comfortably have one.

We got started on a garden. Figured if the seeds were started, the outdoor garden project was more likely to happen! It feels a bit of daunting project since it will need to be created and fenced and fertilized as well as planted.

An evening of sillies that was full of laughs - and morning discoveries of odd bruises! They tried - and succeeded with numerous attempts - every combination, proving that Aiden is truly gaining on his sisters in size and strength. Jasmin on top is where she can smile :)
 

First Time

 Sunday last

All arranged

An evening fully free

Together

A downtown concert

Music we know

Rediscovered in a different mode

Enjoyed

And wonder of wonders

An extra spontaneous

Seeking out of dessert

Splurge

We worked it out

Only one other concert together

At the beginning of the marriage

A gift

Seems fitting:

Both in this city

One at the start

and now as we approach

20 years

Still at the beginning

or maybe quarter way through

But nowhere near the end

Lord willing

Misty March Meditations

 Love (III) 

by George Herbert

 Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back, 

Guilty of dust and sin. 

But quick-ey’d Love, observing me grow slack 

From my first entrance in, 

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning 

If I lack’d any thing.

“A guest,” I answer’d, “worthy to be here”; 

Love said, “You shall be he.” 

“I, the unkind, ungrateful? ah my dear, 

I cannot look on thee.” 

Love took my hand, and smiling did reply, “Who made the eyes but I?” 

“Truth, Lord, but I have marr’d them; let my shame 

Go where it doth deserve.” 

“And know you not,” says Love, “who bore the blame?” 

“My dear, then I will serve.” 

“You must sit down,” says Love, “and taste my meat.” 

So I did sit and eat. 

FINIS 

Glory to God on high, and on earth peace, 

Good will towards men.

1/2 March

 A sign of Spring? Deer REALLY close to the house - without a window in the way only 2-3 steps away

(Unfortunately we've also seen the big porcupine in the field again... with a commitment to chase it with sticks until it decides to stay away)

Lots more clay work happening here during read alouds as well as proper art classes. Here a remarkably good fish drinking and eating snacks while watching... his own creation instructional video

Physics experiments seem to have been more plentiful also. This one learning about the math to measure acceleration and the role of friction and gravity. It got rather tricky as our floors are not level!

And a late mention of some Valentine tulips from Imma. She and Mom had a lovely midday date with tea and cheesecake :)

The kids are attending Youth Alpha Sunday evenings and it is so nice they can drive themselves there!

Otherwise it has been full days of school work trying to get enough work done to get Easter week off (since we didn't take March break) and still finish before summer arrives. With the addition of tennis once a week, this gets to be a bit more tricky and has precipitated such changes as doing read aloud work during lunch times...