Thursday, April 16, 2009

Have Barf Bucket, Will Travel

We've all had enough waiting around the house to see if the Princess is going to barf again. So we decided to head out to the lake to look for a letterbox and spend some Nature time. I'm a "sort-of" Classical homeschooler, so Nature Study is "sort of" important to me. By "sort of", I mean that I am a wanna-be Classical homeschooler who often gets sidetracked by my institutional/traditional background and training.

The ramifications this attitude has on Nature Study are that the joys that can be found in venturing into God's beautiful creation are often squelched by worksheets, writing assignments, and assessments. I'm working on it, I really am. In fact, some time ago I purchased the homeschooling Nature Study bible: Anna Botsford Comstock's Handbook of Nature Study. I have a love/hate relationship with this volume. The book moves around our house a lot; it may spend a month perched on top of the "Things to Sell on Ebay" pile until I decide to give it another shot whereby it moves over to the "Homeschool Materials Bookshelf." I hate to admit that my problem with it is color. I love black and white photos a la Ansel Adams, but the photos in this book are a la photocopier quality, and they are neither inspiring nor helpful. I suspect the publishers wish to preserve the integrity of the Ms. Comstock's book, but a color revision could be offered as a choice at least.

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine gets it. Yesterday I downloaded Creative Nature Study. Full color and chock full of great Nature Study ideas and testimonies from moms who have done it. After perusing the articles, I determined that today we would do some Nature Study, puking baby or not.
And we had a great time. No clipboards. No writing assignments. No tests. The kids had just binoculars and their little legs with which to explore the lake shore. Of course I had my camera, and after telling the kids I would photograph whatever they wanted me to, they quickly set me to work taking pictures of every little rock and plant that crossed our path.


We were unsuccessful in uncovering the letterbox, but after leaving our footprints all over the drought-sticken lakeside, we decided to head back to the car--dirty shoes, treasures, and all.

Next stop was Carvel. I made a promise yesterday, prompted by the incredible guilt I felt about canceling all of this week's activities. I told the kids that if Audrey kept everything down today we would go out for ice cream. They kept careful watch on their little sister and her barf bucket, and since she didn't have to use it, they cashed in on my promise. We did, however, eat outside not only to enjoy the beautiful weather, but also just in case...and the little Princess kept down her ice cream.

6 comments:

CrossView said...

Awww! She looks so pitiful in that first shot! =(

I hope the barf-free time means she's well on her way to recovery!

Looks like you all had a great day! You may have inspired me to take mine out and roam. It never "feels" like school but I'm amazed at how much learning is in there. But we can't do it today! I alrady have her stuff ready! =P

Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet said...

Ugh on the barf bag! :(

Glad you had a great day!

bethany said...

Good for you Katy! We need one of those kind of days, soon!

Courtney said...

I felt the same way about that nature book. I had checked it out of the library and wasn't impressed so we never bought it- even though all classical nature study book lists always include it.

Unknown said...

Hey, we are letterboxers, too! We love that sport!

The answer to your question last fall, when I guest posted on Prodoceo's blog, is, "Now."

I'm at
http://boardinginbedlam.blogspot.com/

I just started the new blog last night. I have a lot of catching up to do - both my reading of other people's blogs and other people on my life for the past few months. I wanted to start a different blog, and I hope to, but this one will have to do for awhile. I know the Boss was impatient for me to start writing again.

Teacher Mommy said...

Is the barfing keeping you from blogging? Cuz I'm missing your posts!