Out of Print

It is with regret that I let you know that Real Learning is out of print and I have no more books available. There are no immediate plans for another printing or a second edition. All I have left of my inventory is a stack of seven books I set aside for my children when my first box of Real Learning arrived in the spring of 2003. Funny thing that is; I don't even have enough books of my own--we've added two more little girls since then.

Please allow me to take this opportunity to thank those of you have have read the book and allowed me to spend a few moments of precious time telling you how much joy this learning lifestyle has brought to our home. And many, many thanks to those of you who shared with me what the book meant to you. Your stories have all been read, pondered, and cherished. It has been a joy and a privilege to share childhood with you, even if only for a brief time. Bless you!

[If you ordered the book from me recently, you should have received a Paypal credit. If you did not receive a credit, please let me know. If you ordered DVDs, they are on their way just as soon as the weather permits a trip to the post office:-)]

Daybook

Outside My Window::

::same old, same old. Huge mountains of snow. More expected this week. I still love it. I think I'd like living in Alaska.

I am Listening to::

::Sportscenter

I am wearing ::

:: a flannel nightgown and cashmere socks.

I am Thankful For::

::a few hours with Daddy in town before he hit the road again. Oh, how life is so much better with him in it!

I am Pondering:

::St. John of the Cross

"Wisdom enters through love, silence, and mortification. It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others."

This quote will define my Lent.

I am Reading:

::The Gift of an Ordinary Day and another that I hope to review tomorrow.

From the Kitchen::

::we had great success with our new Dutch oven this week. I made an amazing pork shoulder roast and some seriously good chicken cacciatore. Recipes soon, I promise.

::homemade Oreos for Valentine's Day. Yum!

I am Thinking:

::That the social media world will be just fine without me. (I am so annoyed with Buzz--great name though; suits the annoyance factor very well.) I'm still trying to figure out why my Google "share" has suddenly sprung to life with followers. I'm mostly ignoring it, since I don't have time to figure out how it all works. I share items on my Google Reader and for the longest time, that was just a nice thing. Now, it's suddenly a platform for all kinds of conversation that require time and attention.  Please don't be insulted if it seems like I'm ignoring you on Google anywhere--it's nothing personal. I just haven't had time to figure out what it all is and set it up so that it works for me. My Google attention went first to shutting it all down for my kids. Before I knew what happened, my 11-year-old figured out Buzz and was buzzing all over the 'net. Google and Buzz will wait, for quite sometime probably. I've other things to do right now. My plan is to put some old favorites in my Google Reader for Lent. It's a good time to revisit, I think.  I might need more silence than the average bear, or something. Whatever it is, I rarely enjoy a foray into the world of online discussion. Buttoning up those windows now, to prepare for a quiet Lent. I do love to blog, though and hope that my quiet will provide sweeter fruit there.

I am Creating::

::My children and I are working hard on some blog changes, both here and on Serendipity. I have no idea how long it's going to take us, but once we're finished, I think you'll find things much more navigable. And prettier. Pretty is good.

On my iPod::

:: AP alerts. This is a good thing. I'm a bit addicted to cable news and that noise has to go, too. This way, AP alerts give me a little ding if something truly newsworthy happens. A little, very contained ding.

Towards a Real Education::

::It's February, time of keeping on. I've actually really benefited from the snow days.  When the public schools are closed, as they have been all last week, all afternoon activities are canceled. When there are no afternoon activities, our days at home are much more productive. I know I should look at the preceding statement and make some huge life-altering decision but that's not likely to happen. Instead, I'll just continue to look at snow days as valuable gifts.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty:

::it's time strip things bare for Lent. We'll drape the religious items in purple ribbon. I bought some last year...wonder where I put it?

::To Live the Liturgy:

::Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, then silence, silence, silence.

::I am Hoping and Praying:

::for Linda at Sacred Heart Books and for her parents who are suffering serious health problems. Won't you pray too; she asked me to beg your prayers.

In the Garden:

::It's cold and white and  blowing again.

Around the House:

::hey, guess what? The floor guys say they're coming back tomorrow.

On Keeping Home:

::I suppose it's time for a Lenten cleaning plan. I think I might be able to do the 40 Bags in 40 Days challenge without ever leaving the basement.

One of My Favorite Things:

::baby snuggles.

Sarah Annie this week:

::We've noticed that everything she says--all her "favorites"--start with "B": book, ball, bath, boots, Bee (her name for Mary Beth).

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week:

::Mike was home for five hours yesterday so we had our Valentine's Day Chinese dinner for lunch. Paddy made Kung Pao chicken and we had three different kinds of chocolate cookie treats.

::The calendar is crammed with makeup activities and games. But...it's supposed to snow on Monday. ;-)

::Mardi Gras on Tuesday

::Ash Wednesday on Wednesday. (Is it still a sacrifice if I say I'm looking forward to this liturgical season?)

A Picture Thought I'm sharing:

 
 
The freezer is stocked with homemade chicken soup. Seems like the winter thing to do.

Let the Little Children Come

There is no doubt that most Catholic adults can understand andappreciate how beneficial time spent in adoration is for their souls. What they may not have considered is how much it can mean to children. In 1996 Pope John Paul II said, “I urge priests, religious and lay people to continue and redouble their efforts to teach the younger generations the meaning and value of Eucharistic adoration and devotion. How will young people be able to know the Lord if they are not introduced to the mystery of His presence?” Please read the rest here.

Chatting at Faith and Family Today!

We're talking about Valentine's Day and Lent at the Faith and Family Livecast!

Here are some links from the Heart of My Home for you to click through as you listen.

Valentine Dots

Valentine Tree

Lenting Reading:

For Mom: Come Meet Jesus

For the Family: The Life of Our Lord for Children

Mardi Gras King Cake the Monkey Bread way

Lenten Menu Plans (samples here- we'll do a new one this year)

Hiding the Alleluia

REPENT on the mantel

Yes, I read it.

Many thanks to those of you who sent me a link to this article. I did indeed read it. I wish that "JM" had been more specific in her questioning. For instance:

Waldorf schools use beeswax crayons. All schools use crayons. Is it the beeswax that makes Waldorf crayons bad? Couldn't be. The Church uses beeswax candles.

Waldorf schools use chunky triangular pencils. My orthodontist gives out chunky triangular pencils. Are the ones labeled "Lyra" bad and the ones labeled "Dr. C" acceptable? Or should I throw them all in the trash, lest they lead me from the faith?

Waldorf schools encourage students to create beautifully drawn borders around written narrations. Are those borders inherently evil? They are rather reminiscent of the medieval illuminations. Perhaps I should get rid of those saints books and alphabet books with the illuminations, just to be sure.

Waldorf schools weave fairy stories into daily life. So does Martha Morse, one of my favorite fictional mothers. Is it the stories that are evil? The fairies? What exactly is it that makes fairy stories taboo? Sorry, I'm not ditching my Martha and Charlotte stories. They absolutely do not threaten my faith and they absolutely do enrich the life of my children.

Waldorf schools use transition rhymes and songs to move from one activity to the next. So does Barney the Dinosaur. And I'm pretty sure Miss Sherry did on Romper Room, too. And so do I. Does this mean I must never sing "Clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere?" Is it really holier to just put my hands on my hips and bark the order?

My guess is that there isn't any problem at all with the use of certain craft supplies, songs, stories or styles of narration. And my guess is that most practicing Catholics are able to discern what is a quality school supply or a clever way of engaging the hearts and minds of children and what is potentially damaging. But if you are unsure, if you have any doubt, then by all means, avoid beeswax and fairies and narrations with watercolor embellishments. Certainly, it's better to be safe, than sorry.