five

Dear Little Owlet,

Your birthday this year wasn't quite as we'd expected. There was no ride on a double decker bus because we were too unwell. No friends at the park. So instead, we did the next best thing. We had a pyjama day. You didn't mind. You opened your gifts in the present cubby... books, tights, a toolbox of your own. You took your time to open and appreciate each gift and thanked each of us.... You ate your favourite breakfast and spent two hours in the bath with big owlet, telling stories, imagining... turning into a prune. Five wrinkly fingers.

I didn't bake you a cake this year. The first time I haven't baked for one of my owlets. But you chose your own cake at the shops. Tall, chocolate and fancy, with lollies. You smiled as you blew out all your balloon-shaped candles. Then the gift that we'd hoped would arrive in time did. Just. Your very own washboard. You whooped as you opened it, and danced around the room. Then you sat down in your new tights and your special birthday dress and washed your baby's clothes. And talked on the phone for an hour or so....

You came and snuggled with me in bed and we listened to the song that played when you were born into your daddy's hands, five years ago, in our dining room... Then you went and ate the dinner he cooked for you. Your favourite. And off to bed. A little unwell, but happy, with a belly full of sunshine and a heart full of love.

Happy birthday my little owlet. May all your days be as lovely. Even if they don't turn out as you planned.

Love, Mama. xx

hello

Just lifting my head for a moment to say hi. We've been well and truly struck down with flu. Well, mostly me, although little owlet and tiny owlet haven't fared too much better. Little owlet's birthday fell in the middle of all this... and I still haven't filled you in on our week in France! Lots of catching up to do. I might try and play catchup tomorrow...



But until then, I'd like to show you this thing. I knitted it! A vest for tiny owlet! It's a version of the lovely Milo. I say a version because I left out the cable (I wanted to finish the thing), there's a colour change in the top part, and I didn't look at the pattern after a while... and there are loads of mistakes. Purls instead of knits, dropped stitches, holes where there shouldn't be holes... I kind of like that though. I figure that's one part of textiles that I really love. Little bumps along the way that let you know things are handmade and with love. This is the first thing beyond a square that I've knitted and there was lots of learning going on. And lots of distraction. LOTS. And the whole journey is mapped out there on her little tum. Keeping it warm.

See you tomorrow. Hope everyone's feeling well in your part of the world. xx

unschool monday :: sick days

One of my favourite things about unschooling is how it fits in so well with my family's rhythms. There's nothing that we really have to get done, aside from the general running of the household and following the owlets' interests. There's no set curriculum to stick to. So if we miss a day, there's nothing to catch up on.



We can call a pyjama day, cancel a playdate if we need, and wrap ourselves in cotton wool. Slow down. Make a bowl of soup and devour it. Then have a bath and fall asleep on the couch...



Then when we're feeling fully recovered, we can stay up late working on something particularly interesting. And spend the weekend adventuring. Of course, we know that even on a sick day at home, learning happens all the time, so we're not missing anything at all. Incidentally, did you know yesterday was Learn Nothing Day? Ever tried it? I'm pretty sure we wouldn't even last an hour :)

my creative space...

We've been rearranging everything. Digging our way out of a winter slump. Slowly, with owlets underfoot. It's like a jigsaw puzzle. You add one storage solution and suddenly every cupboard is being emptied and moved and a new streamlined version of our nest emerges.

In the current version, my craft area (the dining table), has taken on a whole new organised look... and I think it's rather lovely. It makes me want to sew. And I can find everything. We've popped the "lady lamp" on the table to watch over proceedings. She was my grandmother's lamp and she's been lighting up a corner here for the longest time. I loved tracing her shape with my tiny fingers when I was little and it's lovely that the owlets are doing the same. And creativity will flow for all of us. We hope.

More spaces here.

worldly wednesday :: France (part one)

It seems Huz picked up a tummy bug in Guatemala, so he wasn't quite up for much exploring or feasting this week when we arrived in France. Bastille Day passed without fanfare. So we've decided to stay an extra week. I'm a bit glad because we're having fun. On Sunday we had a beautiful petit dejeuner and much chatter in French, putting my school lessons to the test. I think the owlets were impressed (I know I was). I have further plans for the week which I'll detail next Wednesday. Hope you can join us then!

unschool monday :: hanging at the mall

Last weekend we went on a social exploration excursion. Big owlet has been very keen on teenagers and has been watching and reading all about them. It's become clear to me that to her, they represent conformity and finding identity within a group. I find it utterly fascinating watching her analyse social groups and she spends lots of time doing it. Much of the material she's been researching on teenagers involves visits to "the mall". She wanted to go to one. She had no idea what one was. It was one of those moments where you beam with pride and wonder if you've been sheltering her too much with the whole homeschool thing... So we headed off for the nearest "mall" to hang. Sunnies on head, bag slung over shoulder and gumboots on. "Oh, is that it", she uttered after our first lap. Perhaps not the exciting teen hangout she'd envisaged...



But she knows what one is now. She's fascinated with social groups and interactions between children. School children are seen as a group she doesn't belong to, but might like to. One day. Some days she tells me she'd like to be like everyone else. Usually when she sees a pack of kids walk home from the local school. The last time was on our way home from a friend's place where she'd played ALL DAY. I reminded her how much those kids would probably love to have spent the day leaping around their friend's basement and exploring convict built tunnels. It's complex, finding that balance and helping her understand that how we spend our days is normal for many and that the road less travelled can be lots of fun. It is for her and she plays with so many friends each week. She is not lacking in friendships, that's for sure. Nor quality time to explore them. And when we spend time with friends, it helps us remember just how normal our weeks are. Just like everyone else. Although I'm fairly sure that when they're teenagers, the mall may not be the fave hangout.

worldly wednesday :: Guatemala

We went to Guatemala this week. Actually, it felt like Guatemala came to us. While it snowed outside, I pulled out a box I had in the cupboard, full of beautiful textiles and threads. A friend, who lives in Guatemala, had sent them to us years ago and I've had them tucked away for a rainy (or snowy) day.



A selection of huipiles and some glittery thread, as used in the adornment and weaving of said huipiles. The owlets chose one each and flung it on for the remainder of the day.



While making worry dolls.



Dinner was a simple affair. Not the usual banquet, but a plate piled high with nachos... Blackbeans, corn chips, guacamole, corn salsa, cheese and chicken. Bottled water to drink. The owlets were taken aback at the thought of unclean water. How fortunate we are...



Then Flan de Leche Condensada (or creme caramel), for dessert.



While listening to some marimba and looking a photos of lakes, volcanoes, ruins, trees and wondering how any place so beautiful could be so violent. This world tour of ours is certainly opening our world just a little bit more each week...

How are things in your world? Do you have a weekly International food night too? Maybe look at other cultures sometimes during your week? Would you like to add your link below so we can all journey together? I hope you do. It's loads of fun!