March arrived here more like a lamb than the proverbial lion. The snow is slushy, heavy and wet and as it recedes daily, green grass is poking through. The snowdrops are pushing their heads up through the ground a full twelve days earlier than we've ever experienced before. And most telling, we are falling asleep to the drip, drip, driiiiiiiiiip of spring melt on our roof.
We have been continuing with our homeschool tasks, happily forming our week around the daily lessons and chores and details that form our family's rhythm. Thank goodness for our rhythm! It keeps me buoyant, providing structure to our days.
Most days, when Forrest is working away, you may find little Huckley not far from his perch, overseeing all that his big brother does.
With the additon of our new seed start table (with three full seed trays under the lights so far!), we needed to relocate our nature table which was always right near the entry to our home. At night, after the children have drifted off, Josh has been busy in his shop. I assured him that all we needed was a temporary shelf, banged together with a few planks ~ nothing fancy, please! Well, this man has some carpentry integrity because it is so beautiful and functional, our nature table has found a permanent location.
I like that you can see his chainsaw marks from his mill...it gives it such a hand-made look.
fierce knights...this game went on and on and on yesterday...quite happily too! (Mama even got to do a little spinning amidst the knight's adventures)
On Papa's day off this week, he took the children out to the chicken coop (er, future chicken coop as it is just a floor right now with all the wood milled and ready to be put together). While there, they heard a peep peep sound and saw a wee little fellow up in the tree, overseeing my family's activities.
Our first sighting of a pygmy owl on our property. He is a fluffy robin size, according to Josh, which means about 6 or 7 inches. They prefer dusk and dawn but don't venture out much at night. And after watching this one for a bit, a second one joined him/her. It is mating season right now, and out our door you may hear the hoots of other, larger owls at night. But, oh! isn't he sweet? Here he is a little closer up...
A second pygmy swooped in to check out all the action...they were so fearless! This was a real treat for Huckley in particular, as he has had an unexplained fear of owls for some months now. He dreams of them often. He worries about them coming in our home at night when it is dark out, probably because he knows they fly at night. Well, the morning of spotting this owl, he went on and on about his dream which had frightened him. An hour later, he met these two owls and ever since, he is so happy about owls, telling me "Owls are nice, not bad, mama."
My big boy has been loving guitar lessons, and blossoming under the encouraging words of his teacher. We are so lucky to have such a great music school not far from our little, rural home! This week, Forrest spent a long hour sitting like this, composing his own songs. He'd write down the notes, then strum a bit, then write some more. He was thrilled to play his song for his teacher on Wednesday.
Miss Sunshine was also doing a little studying and learning of her own. She spent a long while dressing up, then pouring over one of her ballet books, then on to practicing "her moves", she tells me.
(If anyone knows the Fancy Nancy series by Jane O'Connor they will understand Sunshine's flair for the dramatic here! We love Fancy Nancy...she is hilarious.)
And one last photo of my cuddle boy...giving so much love to anyone in his path. He is a passionate little soul, and when he loves you, he loves you BIG!
Have a fabulous, outdoorsy, cuddly weekend, friends!
Oh there are often knights around here, pretty stinkin' funny. That nature table is gorgeous! I've recently started one again after leaving it out for the last couple of years, the kids are thrilled.
Posted by: angie | March 01, 2013 at 06:13 AM
Your nature table is gorgeous! As is all of the activities the kids have been doing. Such real play, nothing artificial about it, love it! Have you named your little pygmy friends? I wonder if it may help with Huckley's fear? At my Grandparent's home on Salt Spring Island we had two crows that visited regularly, we named them Ernie and Bert!
xoxo
~ joey ~
Posted by: ~ joey ~ | March 01, 2013 at 12:12 PM
Looks like a lovely week! I especially love the knights and owls!
Posted by: Jenny | March 01, 2013 at 09:57 PM
Dear Jules, so many similarities in our homes! OH KNIGHTS!
The new nature table is beautiful. Perfect. I LOVE it.
I got a thrill seeing the owl photos. We love birds of prey- and find owl pellets but have yet to see the owl (we believe to be a great horned, based on the sound we heard once!).
LOVE to you, Melly
Posted by: Melanie | March 04, 2013 at 07:36 AM
dear jules,
i am up way too late and we're leaving on a plane at 6 am for nyc to see two of my babies, but i had to comment (i've no idea how i missed this post). i love all the photos, your babies, their interests, the pure love that is your home. have you noticed how your photos glow? and then the owl. oh oh oh. magic. i am so happy.
love, lori
Posted by: lori | March 06, 2013 at 11:39 PM
Such sweetness in your days, Jules. I am in love with that picture of Forrest writing his song- I can see a bigger him in it somehow- the musician he will grow to be perhaps! And Sunshine consulting her book is so sweet! Love that nature table- our little corner is mostly collecting dust these days!
Posted by: Taisa | March 07, 2013 at 08:45 PM