Making Mead

In the Viking books we read mead is mentioned often. We are now moving into Medieval and this is a recipe to show how they would have made the drink in Medieval days. This drink would have been fermented. Also in those days it would have been expensive to use spice. To purchase 1 pound of nutmeg a person would have had to pay 7 oxen. 

Here is the recipe in case you want to try it out for yourself. 

2 quarts of cold water, 1/2 cup honey (or to taste), 1 lemon or orange sliced up, a sprinkle of nutmeg, and ice cubes mixed up well in a pitcher. 

Try it for yourself. I liked the taste but my kids liked it before adding the nutmeg. Once there was a small taste of nutmeg in the drink they didn't really enjoy it anymore. 

Playing Uno

One of our favourite games is UNO. This time we tried to say the numbers and colours in Spanish. After Austyn tried a magic trick.

More Junior Rangers

 This free program really promotes tree huggers. Zoe is searching for leaves and this tree was too tempting. 

 Some keys. 

 An interesting tiny flower.

 More of that wonderful smelling flower on the trees.

 Running in an open area racing to find what they are told.

 A metallic coloured beetle.

 Some interesting leaves for a leaf rubbing. One feels furry.

 Follow the leader down the path.

 Hiding her eyes to call out a number, representing a corner where kids could be hiding.

His turn.

this moment - moving means more naps

{this moment}

*** *** *** 

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you would like to see what others have posted or if you would like to join in here is the link to SouleMama's Blog:
http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2011/01/this-moment.html

100 Books a Month Challenge - May

We had a long move this month. We did it all ourselves with the brunt of the work being mine. We were unable to get a moving trailer because it's a busy area of the world for movers and it was such a last minute decision. We also had to prep the apartment to be nicer than when we moved it so that we didn't have to pay any fees so this was a busy month especially adding on all of our activities at home and away. We also had a long weekend vacation away and a virus that went through all of us. So, taking all of this into consideration, we did an amazing job with our reading. Here is our list for May.

Both Kids:

1.       A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon (CD)

2.       A Bunny Is Funny and so is this book! By Harriet Ziefert and Fred Ehrlich

3.       A Curious Collection of Cats Concrete Poems by Betsy Franco

4.       A Dragon in a Wagon by Jane Belk Moncure (Austyn helped)

5.       Alligator Baby by Robert Munsch

6.       Anansi’s Party Time b y Eric A. Kimmel (CD)

7.       Archie and the Pirates by Marc Rosenthal

8.       A Salmon for Simon by Betty Waterton and Ann Blades

9.       Bad Rats by Eric Drachman (CD)

10.   Balancing Act by Ellen Stoll Walsh

11.   Bear’s New Friend by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman (CD)

12.   Belinda in Paris by Amy Young

13.   Big Storm by Nancy Tafuri

14.   Bobby The Bold by Donna Jo Napoli and Eva Furrow

15.   Dirt on My shirt by Jeff Foxworthy

16.   Doctor De Soto by William Steig (CD)

17.   Duck at the Door by Jackie Urbanovic

18.   Duck Soup by Jackie Urbanovic

19.   Elbert’s Bad Word by Audrey Wood

20.   Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex (CD)

21.   From Egg to Butterfly by Shannon Zemlicka

22.   From Flower to Honey by Robin Nelson

23.   From Tadpole to Frog by Shannon Zemlicka

24.   Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Diary by Lynley Dodd

25.   Hamsters to the Rescue by Ellen Stoll Walsh

26.   Hilda Must Be Dancing by Karma Wilson (CD)

27.   Honey in a Hive by Anne Rockwell

28.   How Big is the World? By Britta Teckentrup

29.   How Kittens Grow by Millicent E. Selsam

30.   If Not for the Calico Cat by Mary Blount Christian

31.   If You Were a Penguin by Wendell and Florence Minor (CD)

32.   I Have to Go! By Robert Munsch

33.   In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming

34.   Knock! Knock! By Jan Wahl

35.   Knuffle Bunny Too The Case of the Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems (CD)

36.   Library Mouise by Daniel Kirk

37.   Little Penguin’s Tale by Audrey Wood

38.   Little Pierre by Robert D. San Souci

39.   Mac and Cheese by Sarah Weeks

40.   Man Gave Names to all the Animals by Bob Dylan

41.   Marley by Jeanine Le Ny

42.   My Village by Danielle Wright

43.   Nana’s Getting Married by Heather Hartt-Sussman

44.   Nature’s Paintbox by Patricia Thomas

45.   Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth

46.   Over in the Meadow by Olive A. Wadsworth

47.   Paul Needs Specs by Bernard Cohen and Geoff Kelly

48.   Peeping Beauty by Mary Jane Auch

49.   Piggy Pie Po by Audrey and Don Wood

50.   Pigs Make Me Sneeze! By Mo Willems (Zoe helped)

51.   Pip Squeak by Sarah Weeks

52.   Queen’s Secret by Frieda Wishinsky Loufane

53.   Rip Squeak and His Friends by Susan Yost-Filgate

54.   Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi by Cindy Neuschwander

55.   Sitting Duck by Jackie Urbanovic

56.   SpongeBob to the Rescue! By Alison Inches

57.   Stone Soup by Marcia Brown (CD)

58.   Strong Stuff Herakles and His Labors by John Harris

59.   Sunshine Makes the Seasons by Franklyn M. Branley

60.   The 3 Little Dassies by Jan Brett

61.   The Best Goalie Ever by Gilles Tibo and Bruno St-Aubin

62.   The Dangerous Snake and Reptile Club by Daniel San Souci

63.   The Gardener by Sarah Stewart (CD)

64.   The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights by David A. Ufer

65.   The Invisible Man by Arthur Yorinks

66.   The Little Red Pen by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel

67.   The Scarecrow’s Dance by Jane Yolen

68.   The Super Hungry Dinosaur by Martin Waddell

69.   This is Me! By Philip Waechter (Zoe helped)

70.   Tippy-Tippy-Tippy, Hide! By Candace Fleming and G. Brian Karas

71.   Water and the Weather by Rebecca Olien

72.   Weird Parents by Audrey Wood

73.   Wendel’s Workshp by Chris Riddell (CD)

74.   What Makes Day and Night by Franklyn M. Branley

75.   Where’s My Hockey Sweater? By Gilles Tibo and Bruno St-Aubin

76.   Who Likes Rain? By Wong Herbert Yee

77.   Where the Forest Meets the Sea by Jeannie Baker

78.   Where the Sunrise Begins by Douglas Wood

79.   Why War is Never a Good Idea by Alice Walker

80.   You’re Aboard Spaceship Earth by Patricia Lauber

Austyn:

1.       Cougars by Anne Welsbacher

2.       Magic in the Margins by W. Nikola-Lish

3.       Old Mother Bear by Victoria Miles

4.       Pigs Make Me Sneeze! By Mo Willems (Austyn Read)

5.       Rio Learning to fly by Catherine Hapka (Austyn helped)

6.       Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges

7.       The Magic Hockey Skates by Allen  Moran

8.       Touch That! By Veronika Martenova Charles

9.       Trees to Paper (Austyn Read)

Zoe:

1.       A Curious Collection of Cats Concrete Poems by Betsy Franco

2.       Are You My Mother? By P.D. Eastman

3.       Come Meet Muffin! By Joyce Carol Oates

4.       Down By The Bay by Raffi

5.       Down By The Bay by Raffi (Zoe Read)

6.       Dreams Under the Sea by Disney

7.       Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

8.       Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

9.       Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins

10.   If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff

11.   If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

12.   If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff

13.   If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff

14.   If You Give a Pig a Party by Laura Numeroff

15.   I’m A Little Teapot by Playmore Inc.

16.   Just Enough Carrots by Stuart J. Murphy

17.   Little Cinderella by Brown, Tagard and Chase (online)

18.   Muff and Ruff Bob Books First! (Zoe Read)

19.   Princess Story Collection by Disney ( 5 Stories – Zoe Read some)

20.   The Lady with the Alligator Purse by Mary Ann Hoberman and Nadine Bernard Westcott

21.   The Lady with the Alligator Purse by Mary Ann Hoberman and Nadine Bernard Westcott (Zoe read)

22.   The Story of Beauty and the Beast by Madame de Chatelain (Online)

23.   The Trouble with Ben by Barry Louise Polisar (Online)

24.   The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

25.   Tinker Bell by Disney

26.   Zoe’s Rainy Day by Barbara Reid (Zoe Read)

27.   Zoe’s Snowy Day by Barbara Reid (Zoe Read)

28.   Zoe’s Sunny Day by Barbara Reid (Zoe Read)

29.   Zoe’s Windy Day by Barbara Reid (Zoe Read)

Book Sharing Monday - Mama's Milk

Michael Elsohn Ross did a great job with promoting breastfeeding with this book. 

Each page shows a different animal nursing. It's a beautiful book!

Interests are Contagious... Hockey

It is so interesting that when one person in our house becomes passionate about something, it becomes contagious. This has happened a few times in our home. I think that with unschooling this could become more apparent because we are following interests. I don't mean just the interests of the kids but the interest of all of us. Parents could be the model of how people pursue their interests. I'm not as good at this as my husband is. I end up making the needs of everyone else a priority. The point being made here is that when one of us get involved in a particular interest we all end up eventually interested in someway. It could be an interest that moves from parent to child or child to parent.

Austyn has been interested in hockey lately and because of that interest Daddy decided to try out hockey for the first time. We do our best to support each other as much as possible. We all go to practices and games for Austyn even when it`s really early.

When Daddy went to his first practice, it was late at night, but since the kids don`t have to attend school the next day we all went. We likely won`t do it again that late because Zoe can`t handle it, but the point is we did it for support. I think it was important for the kids to see that it`s never too late to try something new.

I'm no hockey fan. I particularity don`t like the fights, but I do my best to support Austyn's interests and use those interests as a means to learn. After all he loves when I do this. I've been reading books to him on the subject and am finding hockey much more interesting than ever before.

Here is a book about the most famous goal, told by a young boy. It`s called The Greatest Goal by Mike Leonetti. It's just one of the hockey books we've read.


Here is a video on the greatest goal. The year is 1972. It`s The Soviet Union against Canada. It`s game eight. All of Canada has shut down to watch. Children watched in classrooms. It was tense and a tied game. With only 34 seconds left, after rebounding twice off of the goalie, Paul Henderson scored The Greatest Goal! People everywhere could recall where they were when they witnessed it! After the game people of all ages left their homes and went into the streets throughout Canada to celebrate together.

So, as you can see, being an interest-led type of homeschooling family can really lead to so much knowledge and life experiences. Now... let's see if my interest in learning Spanish catches on. :)