Up, Sluggard!

Up, sluggard, and waste not life.

In the grave will be sleeping enough.

Benjamin Franklin

St. George and the Dragon

Rafael Sanzio (1483-1520)

St. George and the Dragon

Rafael Sanzio was an Italian Renaissance master painter and architect who was admired by his contemporaries. The inscription on his marble sarcophagus reads (translated): 'Here lies Raffaello who, when alive, Nature was afraid to be won by him, when he died, she wanted to die herself.' What passion.

Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman is a beautiful retelling of a portion of Spenser's The Faerie Queen in which George, the Red Cross Knight, is sent by the Fairy Queen to face a dreadful dragon.

Then dawn chased away the dark, a lark mounted up to heaven, and up rose the brave knight with all his hurts and wounds healed, ready to fight again. When the dragon saw him, he began to be afraid. Still he rushed upon the knight, mouth gaping wide to swallow him whole. And the knight's bright weapon, taking advantage of that open jaw, ran it through with such strength that the dragon fell dead, breathing his last in smoke and cloud. Like a mountain he fell, and lay still. The knight himself trembled to see that fall, and his dear lady did not dare to come near to thank her faithful knight until she saw that the dragon would stir no more.

Which, of course, reminds me of a quote by C.S. Lewis:

Since it is so likely that they will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.

Yes, I think Levi and I will read St. George and the Dragon again today.

I actually first came across the above painting while looking through an art game with the boys:


Renaissance Go Fish for Art by Birdcage Press is a gorgeous game of art. The object is to collect a set of masterpieces by each Renaissance artist featured. The cards are heavy and glossy. Many of the photographs are details of the artwork.

Birdcage Press has wonderful art and science games. I have a few more on my wish list.

Talk to the Hand

I had high hopes for Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door, and Lynne Truss did not fail to deliver. Just as full of humor as her book Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Talk to the Hand was a refreshing (or would that be depressing?) nonfiction look at the rudeness in the world around us.

Who among us is exempt from contact with rude people? Everyone that I know could easily share an anecdote to support the theory that our world is quickly becoming a disrespectful, unreasonable, selfish, and downright rude place. I think that the average person would relate to many of the stories and conclusions that Lynne Truss shares in this book. Surely the book would also generate a few laugh-out-loud moments, as well as a 'yes, that's exactly right!' moment or two.

If nothing else, I am inspired to go out of my way to be respectful and courteous to those around me when in public places or speaking on the phone.

From The Fifth Good Reason: Booing the Judges

There seems to be an idea that the more disrespect you show towards the rich or famous [...], the nearer you move towards achieving equality, but the effect is quite the opposite: rudeness highlights difference. In a truly egalitarian society, everyone would show respect to everyone else. It is very bad news for our society that overt disrespect is such a big game these days, because it just stirs people up without enlightening them. Mass entertainment that demeans public figures satisfies popular base instincts but leaves nobody better off. Besides, at the same time as it's become fashionable never to look up to anyone, it has become nastily acceptable to look down.

The "end of deference" is about a lot more than the flattening of class distinctions, in any case. [...] Respect and consideration are traditionally due to other people for all sorts of reasons, some big, some small. Here are twenty (mostly lapsed) reasons to show special politeness to other people that have nothing to do with class.

1 they are older

2 they know more than you do

3 they know less than you do

4 they got here first

5 they have educational qualifications in the subject under discussion

6 you are in their house

7 they once helped you financially

8 they have been good to you all your life

9 they are less fortunate than you

10 they have achieved status in the wider world

11 you are serving them in a shop

12 they are in the right

13 they are your boss

14 they work for you

15 they are a policeman/teacher/doctor/judge

16 they are in need

17 they are doing you a favor

18 they paid for the tickets

19 you phoned them, not the other way round

20 they have a menial job

Did I Mention?

Have I mentioned (recently) how much I love living just down the road from my parents?

Or how much I love spending time with my whole family?

'Bambi' (my mom) bringing food to the table.

Ben (Shannon's husband) pitching to my nephew, Drake.

Me. In the outfield.

Everyone getting into the kite flying action.
'Poppy' (my dad) made the kite with Drake and his sister, Ilex.

Moai

Ahu Tongariki Photo by Ian Sewell

Easter Island, Chile is home to the moai, ceremonial statues carved out of compressed volcanic ash. More than 850 heads (and torsoes) have been found, and close to 400 are still visible on the island. They were carved by Polynesian colonizers around A.D. 1000 - 1100.

An interesting audio presentation about the moai can be found here, at History.com

Levi requested that we add the Easter Island statues to our 'places of the world' flashcards after seeing one of the statues in the movie Night at the Museum.

Reading Here and There

You're never too young to have your head in a book.

There are many little ways to
enlarge your child's world.
Love of books is the best of all.
— Jacqueline Kennedy

Levitical Sayings

(Vocabulary:) Beverage, Retract, Hoist, Appropriate, Grumble

Mom! The sun is dazzling on your cheek! (The sun was reflecting off of his tadpole pond and on to my face.)

Why did you say that in such a shrill voice? (No comment.)

I'm thirsty. May I have the remains of my orange juice?

Let me tell you one hundred good things about my day. (On the phone talking to Dad who was on a business trip.)

(While working on his phonics--the word was 'sweet.') Like the water at the edge of the world in Prince Caspian! (He thinks a second or two.) No...it was The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. (Prince Caspian was aboard.) Reepicheep darted into the water because it was so sweet!

Asian Beef Salad

Check out the recipe for Asian Beef Salad by The Classical Family over at Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding. It's delicious! I used the rice noodles and my family voted against them, so I'll try the spaghetti noodles or Yakisoba noodles next time around. I wish I would have had some red peppers, but it tasted great even without them. Give it a try if you're in the mood for something new.

Summer Reading Challenge

Seasonal Soundings Hosts the Summer Reading Challenge!

Want to join us in making an intentional reading list for the next three months?

For ChocLit Guild:

Little Pilgrim's Progress (John Bunyan/Helen L. Taylor)

Down the Garden Path (Beverly Nichols)

The Richest Man in Babylon (George S. Clason)

Just For Me:

Much Ado About Nothing, Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare for Children (E. Nesbit)

Cultural Literacy (E.D. Hirsch, Jr.)

The Closing of the American Mind (Allan Bloom)

North and South (Gaskell) (finish!)

Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)

Daily:

A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens) (at Dailylit.com) (finish!)

A Year With C.S. Lewis (continue)

Lord Bless My Child (William & Nancie Carmichael) (continue)

Bible

With Levi:

A Pioneer Sampler (Barbara Greenwood) (finish reading, do activities)

Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder (William Anderson)

Little House in the Big Woods (Laura Ingalls Wilder)

The Borrowers (Mary Norton)

The Moffats (Eleanor Estes)

May and June

May and June.

Soft syllables, gentle names for the two best months

in the garden year:

cool, misty mornings gently burned away with a warming spring sun,

followed by breezy afternoons and chilly nights.

The discussion of philosophy is over; its time for work to begin.

--Peter Loewer

Luke's 3

Hearst Castle

Main House

Photo Credits

Neptune Pool

Photo Credits

Veranda Looking West

Photo Credits

Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California is quite possibly one of my favorite places on earth. It is an unexpected treasure on the west coast of the United States. The view of the California coast from the castle is spectacular!

William Randolph Hearst designed this estate, which houses an extensive collection of antiquities. His architect, Julia Morgan, is a fascinating woman to study herself. A woman architect in a man's profession, she had amazing talent to be able to work with the eccentric Hearst. Together they started building the castle in the early 1900s and worked on the project for many years.

If you are ever near San Luis Obisbo, California, I highly recommend visiting this National Historic Landmark.

Spring Reading Challenge Wrap-Up

I am glad that I participated in the Spring Reading Challenge at Seasonal Soundings. It is amazing how intentional reading makes an impact on my ability to get to the books on my lists!Following is my wrap-up with links to previous notes.

For ChocLit Guild:
Mere Christianity (C. S. Lewis)--FINISHED
North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell)--HALF WAY THROUGH AND ON HOLD
I Dared to Call Him Father (Bilquis Sheikh)--FINISHED

Just For Me:
To Say Nothing of the Dog (Connie Willis)--FINISHED
The Catcher in the Rye (J. D. Salinger)--FINISHED
Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare--multiple children's versions)--(Read A Midsummer Night's Dream, Othello, and Twelfth Night instead as we were seeing those plays live. Will put Much Ado on my summer list.)
Hotel Pastis (Peter Mayle)--SHELVED

DailyLit.com:
A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)--READING ON SCHEDULE (More notes here.)

Evenings:
A Year with C. S. Lewis--STILL ENJOYING (More notes here and here.)
Lord Bless My Child (William & Nancie Carmichael)--STILL ENJOYING

With Levi:
The Wind in the Willows (Kenneth Grahame)--FINISHED
The Cricket in Times Square (George Selden)--FINISHED
The Twenty-One Balloons (William Pene du Bois)--FINISHED
Pippi Longstocking (Astrid Lindgren)--FINISHED
The Saturdays (Elizabeth Enright)--FINISHED

Also Read:
Ben and Me (Robert Lawson)
Honey for a Woman's Heart (Gladys Hunt)
Marva Collins' Way (Marva Collins and Civia Tamarkin)
The Art of Civilized Conversation (Margaret Shepherd)

I'll be posting my list for the Summer Reading Challenge in the next day or two.

In Memory

They are dead;

but they live in each Patriot's breast,

And their names are engraven

on honor's bright crest.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Frivolous Quiz

:: L I Z Z Y ::
You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of silliness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgement that serves you very ill indeed.

I'm not sure this quiz was quite as accurate as the mothering style quiz, for me, anyway.

Which Jane Austen heroine are you? Take the quiz to find out. Saturday is the perfect day to be frivolous and silly, isn't it? (Humor me, okay? It's been a long week.)

Rough Seas

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)

The Great Wave off Kanagawa c. 1823-29

Woodblock print

Cave Paintings to Picasso: The Inside Scoop on 50 Art Masterpieces showcases 50 major works of art from 22,000 B.C. to A.D. 1964 while providing a nice summary of art history for children. It is also a great place to start for the adult interested in beginning art study. The above print by Hokusai is one of the included masterpieces:

Hokusai's Great Wave is part of a Japanese printmaking tradition known as UKIYO-E, 'pictures of the floating world.' It celebrates the momentary beauty of the world and the joy of life.

This print caught my eye after watching a Little Einsteins episode with the boys which featured Hiroshige Utagawa's print, Rough Seas at Awa, The Navaro Rapids (1853-56).

Little Einsteins features a varied selection of masterpieces, one in each episode along with a famous composer and a short portion of one of his musical pieces. Music theory and world geography make this show one of our favorites for the younger crowd.

Geography Lessons

'Look, Mom! It's Idaho.' (Geography lessons must be sticking.)

Isn't it amazing what can be seen in a half-eaten piece of cheese?

Homeschooling

Today on the 'here and there' menu, I offer a great blog entry, Home Education: Delicious and Nutritious found over at Here in the Bonny Glen. Melissa Wiley does an excellent job countering the homeschool skeptic's criticism and concerns such as 'Are you qualified?' and 'What about socialization?' Upbeat, fresh, and humorous, her post is a delight.

But maybe the Socialization Worrier meant something else. Maybe she meant, "See, I know this family who homeschools, and their kids are just plain weird/socially awkward/obnoxious/wild/[insert unpleasant adjective of choice]." To which I must respond: And you're saying that there are no weird/socially awkward/obnoxious/wild/etc. kids in schools? Because, um, I beg to differ. They were there when I was in school, and I know they're there now because I hear about them (or read about them in the news) all the time. Some of the weird ones—the nerdy guys in the computer club—grew up to become multimillionaires (and usually really nice people—but then, they were nice all along, just weird). Some of the obnoxious ones now draw huge crowds at the comedy club. Others are in jail...

...That's what I'd like to ask the "I know a homeschooling family and I don't like them" skeptics. Because I don't believe that if they really thought the matter through, they would believe that the problem with those kids would have been avoided by "socialization" in a school setting. The obnoxious kids would almost certainly be just as obnoxious (what our skeptic is really objecting to is probably a parenting issue, not an educational one), and the weird kids would be just as weird and probably a whole lot more miserable. After all, "weird" in this context just means "different," doesn't it? Kids who just don't fit in? How many times have we seen the school misfit blossom and thrive as soon as he finishes school or college and is finally freed of the pressure to squeeze into a mold that doesn't fit him? Heck, how many of us experienced this ourselves?

Another great article to check out is One Good Year: A Look at Short-Term Homeschooling by Laura Brodie, in which Laura decides to homeschool her daughter for just one year. The author is honest about the struggles and joys, and also includes homeschooling research that she found while making her decision. This is a point of view not often found, since many homeschoolers come from a long-term position and don't have to stradle the public school/homeschool fence.

In the end, I believe in supporting public education in America, especially in districts like ours, where the schools are small and safe. But in return, the public schools should be supporting America's families, not filling our children's family time with more schoolwork. While I am willing to leave my daughter's education in the hands of the public schools until three o'clock each day, after-school hours should be devoted to exercise, art, music, and unstructured play--all of the highly educational activities that many schools, in their test-bound shackles, have cut to the bare bones. When excessive homework gets in the way of family time--time for long conversations, as well as visits to museums and parks and concerts--that's when the schools have crossed my line in the sand. And that's when Julia and I will be back in our local coffee shop, spending our Wednesday mornings speaking bits of French over a game of chess.

One of my favorite reads on the subject of homeschooling (and public school as well) is written by a public high school English teacher and author of Snow Falling on Cedars. David Guterson's Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense weaves between anecdotal, factual, argumentative, and poetic style. A balanced look at homeschooling and public school, this book is a must read!

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is an ancient city built by the Incas in the 1400s. Located in Peru on the top of an Andean mountain, it is completely self-contained and invisible from below. It appears to have been used for ceremonies and astronomical observatory.

From Sacred Sites:

Two thousand feet above the rumbling Urubamba river, the cloud shrouded ruins have palaces, baths, temples, storage rooms and some 150 houses, all in a remarkable state of preservation. These structures, carved from the gray granite of the mountain top are wonders of both architectural and aesthetic genius. Many of the building blocks weigh 50 tons or more yet are so precisely sculpted and fitted together with such exactitude that the mortarless joints will not permit the insertion of even a thin knife blade.

This site has some great photographs and information, as does this page.

Meal Plan Monday

Sunday: Taco Salad and Watermelon

Monday: Broccoli, Beef, and Tomato over Whole Wheat Spiral Noodles

Tuesday: Baked Dijon Salmon, Cheesy Cauliflower, Green beans

Wednesday: Grilled Chicken, Whole Grain Rice, Lettuce/Cranberries/Walnuts/Feta Cheese/Vinaigrette Dressing

Thursday: Spaghetti, Corn, Green Salad, Bread

Friday: Hamburgers (with bacon and avocado), Fresh Veggies and Dip, Chips

Saturday: Pork Fried Rice and Pineapple

Sunday: Chef Salad

Russ was gone all last week on a business trip, so I'm a bit tired of chicken nuggets. Grin. We're all looking forward to a week of healthy, good food!