August Pictures: Garden, Beach, School

We all did well yesterday. The in-service was as irrelevent to me as I thought it would be (geared for elementary school teachers, not adult educators!), and it was as awkward as I thought it would be (I knew no one), but whatever. It was $60, and I like to think about how to teach writing – if not my students, my children.

The kids did well, as I knew they would. About 15 mins in, Madelyn called. When I called back 15 mins later, Owen answered the phone and started off, “no one called” and I said “yes they did and I don’t have time, so was it important or not?” and he said in a small voice, “I wasn’t being nice” and I asked if it was resolved, if Madelyn would think it was resolved, and he said yes and I told him to get it together and behave. When I got back all their schoolwork and chores were done (well) and Madelyn had asked for reparation (this is what we do, usually mediated by me) for Owen being irritating, so he took the compost for her, and they were playing a new Hooda Math game together. If nothing else, that time is good for them for figuring things out and being a team.

It was a busy day, with my in-service, then their violin lesson, and a trip to the grocery store and library. But we all got some good work done and everyone stayed calm/present, so yay! good day!

Today we’ll do school, I’m going to pick green beans, and finish with the peaches. We may even stay home all day, which would be nice. I have computer work to do for church & the kids’ violin school. So plenty to occupy us here…

Summer pictures… a day at the beach with friends. We’ve know them since Madelyn was 6 months old. C is a little older; L is between Madelyn & Owen, and J (the boy) is two years younger than Owen. Their mom is one of my best friends. Now that the kids are older, it’s really fun to see how they really mix up who plays with who.

We let the “big girls” go swim and boogie-board by themselves. The waves were small and they’re both good swimmers. Hard to let go…

Evil scheming sea gull:

The girls’ huge sand pit:

My buried girl:

Science is fun! Studying exothermic & endothermic reactions:

Can’t do this in school:

Studying acids & bases with home-made cabbage indicator. And playing air-bass, of course. And yes, it was a chilly morning.

Garden update… there are so many teeny gourds on the plants near my door. Some teeny pumpkins too. So fun!

Tomatoes are coming along…

I have really enjoyed the China asters that Madelyn picked out. I’ll grow them again.

Scarlet runner beans by the back “door” (there are no steps to it – no one ever uses it) – hummingbirds love it:

I love this hydrangea – reminds me of a ballerina’s tutu.

Pumpkins in the new garden:

Also, what the HELL is this? Some kind of fungus. Gross…

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Teeny Brussels Sprouts:

‘Little Leaf’ cucumbers still going strong:

Beets:

I love how they look with the marigolds. Definitely remember that for next year. Beans producing well again:

Tully in the background:

More flowers!

How it looks from the road:

My garden fiddler (he’s fiddling right now too):

Peaches!

Look what we found in the dill! A swallowtail butterfly caterpillar!

Inside habitat:

He stopped eating Sunday night – I cleaned out his cage & put fresh food in. We weren’t sure what was happening. He was hanging out on a twig, and didn’t move all day yesterday. We weren’t sure if he was dying or going to make a chrysalis. Then last night around 9, after the kids were in bed, I looked and he was totally making a chrysalis! This morning he’s all brown. I really hope we get to see him turn into a butterfly!!