I could get used to being home. Yesterday, I was a tad discombobulated again – thoughts of work looming and not enough sleep, or water, plus a little bit of missing England creeped in {quite a bit in fact!}. We stayed home all day and I was warmed by your kind comments, thank you. We accomplished a lot, schooling wise. I was amazed again that both children finished 10 pieces of work by noon, when at school they were only accomplishing 1-3 pieces per day {and sometimes in my son’s case, nothing at all!}. We spent the afternoon reading and I did feel positive that our new routine of more structured learning in the morning, with reading and other gentler activities in the afternoon is working well. We did finish the day with a delightful meal of homemade veggie burgers, homemade chips, peas and a spinach salad. And that brings us to today.
Today was a much brighter day, and I declared it field trip day! The excitement this morning was palpable. After breakfast and a bit of school work we not only were able to attend a Church service, but also made it to a local art exhibit {we had a pass} and to the library. The trip was a complete success, and tied in nicely with both art and english as this month I’m really working with the children on learning how to describe objects and people. They both are language delayed so often say “that one” or “over there” and then point rather than commenting on size, colour, shape etc. So not only did they have their new daily activity of having to describe an object or person, today they also had to choose a favourite piece of art in each room at the gallery and then describe it well enough we could all guess which it was! They both did exceptionally well, I’m amazed at how far they’ve come in a few short days! I was also struck by how much more my son gained from this trip than he did when we visited the same gallery in July, he appreciated the art more and his attention was held for longer periods. Of course, he did lock himself in a bathroom on this trip {mothers, please tell me you have these moments too? It was a little bit like the UK series Outnumbered for a minute or so!}, but that aside it was wonderful. An added bonus was I was able to see some of my very favourite paintings by Tom Thompson and the group of seven, discover a few new artists and get over my disappointment they didn’t have Jack Chambers on exhibit {one of my favourite Canadian painters!}.
I felt inspired and arty after the trip and it even gave me the courage to sign up for a local knitting session next month. Things like this terrify me, so it was a big step. Other lovely things today? A lovely, albeit cold, walk in the snow and I found out my daughter was asked to join a free choir program for children.
And tonight the children are in bed on time {it’s 7:45 and both are tucked up, one fast asleep and the other I hope will follow soon!} and I’m almost done this post and then will do some baking, tackle a few more things on the list, put away the laundry and have some time with my book club book. I may even make some carrot soup for a friend. After a couple of blue days, it is lovely to feel peaceful, content and cozy. I really do love being home with the two special people who I’m blessed to call my children, and today I felt very grateful for our very special life and all the lovely people in it – blog readers too!
Resisted today? A coffee from an independent coffee shop. It was calling my name very very loudly after our walk and the Church service and our trip to the art exhibit, but I resisted each hour of the day! 
How is everyone else doing with their month of nothing?
As I’m NOT having a month of nothing, I’m doing very poorly haha! You on the other hand are doing brilliantly well. I love hearing about your days with the children and the oh so sweet improvements they are making under your loving guiding hands!
Judy xx
You are doing so much better than I am with a month of nothing, being indoors I wanted to tackle the bathroom and make a few other changes around here during the winter, before spring and gardening take center stage, while I didn’t set an exact date to start I feel like I am putting off things that need to be done.
Okay, you adopt two children, both with special needs, leave your home country, and signing up for a knitting class scares you? I wouldn’t think much would scare you, you are so adventurous.
I love reading about your family. I don’t know if you will be able to keep up this level of blogging after the month of nothing, but I am grateful for it now. I feel so inspiredby what you are doing, and so full of gladness that your children are having so much more success than some people thought they ever would. BTW, my daughter Alice loves the group of seven and I bought her the book about them. Their art is so powerful, and fits with Alice. She has always loved clean lines and simple design and was the only little girl in her group who refused to have any ruffles on her first communion dress. It was not easy finding one that was plain enough, but we did it. She’s 38 now and hasn’t really changed in this respect.
I am really feeling your joy of teaching and watching the learning evolve before your eyes. People used to wonder why we only did half day school when their children needed to spend whole days at school. I put it down to the fact that teachers have to deal with a large number of students, setting out work and all the other time wasting things they do. At home you just get the book out, start and finisha nd on to the next subject. All the best. Cherrie
Hello from chilly Wiltshire in England FT.
So pleased you gave us recipe for carrot soup. Maybe it is time for you to publish a cookbook with all your yummy looking food in
Pingback: Week 4: 52 Weeks of Happiness | Notes From The Frugal Trenches – A Downshifting Journey