First Flower of 2006, and other little news
Sandra Dodd
http://sandradodd.blogspot.com/
You could go there to see it with the flower, but here's the text of
something written today:
Well, it's the first flower in MY yard. It's still working on opening
up all the way. The color started to show on the last day of
February. On the first day of March, the news said we had set a
record for the driest winter in recorded history. The next day it
rained�not much, but late afternoon when we were picking Marty up
from the airport.
Marty went to Legoland. He paid for his own airfare, and he bought
viking Lego with his own debit card. The group outing was organized
by Live and Learn Conference attendees and friends of theirs, who
formed a mailing list for the western U.S., so there were others
there he knew from the conference, and some unschoolers he hadn't met
as well.
When Marty was at Legoland, it rained. It rained the next day too. It
was hot and dry in Albuquerque. By the time Marty's plane arrived
here, it was raining, lightly. He brought photos of Legoland, full of
flowers. He said Carlsbad, California, is full of flower-market
flowers. We just got the first flower of the season.
When Pam Sorooshian visited in January, I bought some not-quite-
opened bulbs from Raley's where Marty works and brought them home so
they could open, and later I could plant the bulbs in the yard for
next year. Pam didn't know about forced bulbs, because she has always
lived where flowers can bloom all year.
I'm tired but content. The past couple of weeks were busy and
productive and exhausting. Last night the house had just our family,
and all of our family, though Marty and Kirby didn't see each other,
and I went to bed early (for me, 10:00). Holly took care of making
sure Marty's apron for work went into and came out of the dryer. I
will thank her profusely, when she wakes up, this afternoon.
OH! That reminds me. ElleGirl Magazine will have a half-page article
(fullpage, but large stock art of a girl none of us knows) on
unschooling in its April issue. The writer spent lots of time on the
phone with three families, at least, but it doesn't much show. Her
editor insisted she talk to college admissions officers. She asked me
for contacts. I said that Roxana Sorooshian had just spoken with an
advisor at St. John's College in Santa Fe that week, and she might
call him. I warned her she was likely to talk to people who knew
nothing about unschooling. She did. So along with several wan quotes
from the unschoolers she interviewed, she had two more solid (but
easily refutable) quotes from a school psychologist and a Harvard
admissions person. The unschoolers quoted were Holly, Brenna and
Roya. Others named were Kirby, Marty, Sandra and Gail, alll people we
know. The other two were add-ons for "balance," but it wasn't balance
so much as refutation by the unqualified-to-comment. Bummer. It could
have been so much better, so easily.
So how do I feel about Holly being used to help sell advertising for
glittery eye make-up and studded handbags? If they hadn't talked to
us they would have found other unschoolers. If they hadn't wasted our
time it would've been someone else's. If I'd had a fancier camera,
they'd've used photos of Holly instead of a stranger lying in a field
of flowers. But their magazine is about appearances, and unschooling
isn't much about appearances at all. Probably it just wasn't a very
good match. Those interested in wearing those clothes and that makeup
probably need to "stay on track" so they can get jobs writing fluffy
articles for New York fashion magazines. The reporter was nice
enough, but in the end she got paid real money, while unschooling was
shortchanged.
Still, Holly's life IS peaceful, even though we have only one
daffodil and not a field of flowers. Her brothers like her. She sat
in the hot tub with both her parents last night ("if it's okay with
you," she said, when she said she'd like to go in too). She finished
her brother's laundry so he and I could sleep. You can't photograph
that with any camera.
posted by Sandra Dodd @ 8:08 AM
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
You could go there to see it with the flower, but here's the text of
something written today:
Well, it's the first flower in MY yard. It's still working on opening
up all the way. The color started to show on the last day of
February. On the first day of March, the news said we had set a
record for the driest winter in recorded history. The next day it
rained�not much, but late afternoon when we were picking Marty up
from the airport.
Marty went to Legoland. He paid for his own airfare, and he bought
viking Lego with his own debit card. The group outing was organized
by Live and Learn Conference attendees and friends of theirs, who
formed a mailing list for the western U.S., so there were others
there he knew from the conference, and some unschoolers he hadn't met
as well.
When Marty was at Legoland, it rained. It rained the next day too. It
was hot and dry in Albuquerque. By the time Marty's plane arrived
here, it was raining, lightly. He brought photos of Legoland, full of
flowers. He said Carlsbad, California, is full of flower-market
flowers. We just got the first flower of the season.
When Pam Sorooshian visited in January, I bought some not-quite-
opened bulbs from Raley's where Marty works and brought them home so
they could open, and later I could plant the bulbs in the yard for
next year. Pam didn't know about forced bulbs, because she has always
lived where flowers can bloom all year.
I'm tired but content. The past couple of weeks were busy and
productive and exhausting. Last night the house had just our family,
and all of our family, though Marty and Kirby didn't see each other,
and I went to bed early (for me, 10:00). Holly took care of making
sure Marty's apron for work went into and came out of the dryer. I
will thank her profusely, when she wakes up, this afternoon.
OH! That reminds me. ElleGirl Magazine will have a half-page article
(fullpage, but large stock art of a girl none of us knows) on
unschooling in its April issue. The writer spent lots of time on the
phone with three families, at least, but it doesn't much show. Her
editor insisted she talk to college admissions officers. She asked me
for contacts. I said that Roxana Sorooshian had just spoken with an
advisor at St. John's College in Santa Fe that week, and she might
call him. I warned her she was likely to talk to people who knew
nothing about unschooling. She did. So along with several wan quotes
from the unschoolers she interviewed, she had two more solid (but
easily refutable) quotes from a school psychologist and a Harvard
admissions person. The unschoolers quoted were Holly, Brenna and
Roya. Others named were Kirby, Marty, Sandra and Gail, alll people we
know. The other two were add-ons for "balance," but it wasn't balance
so much as refutation by the unqualified-to-comment. Bummer. It could
have been so much better, so easily.
So how do I feel about Holly being used to help sell advertising for
glittery eye make-up and studded handbags? If they hadn't talked to
us they would have found other unschoolers. If they hadn't wasted our
time it would've been someone else's. If I'd had a fancier camera,
they'd've used photos of Holly instead of a stranger lying in a field
of flowers. But their magazine is about appearances, and unschooling
isn't much about appearances at all. Probably it just wasn't a very
good match. Those interested in wearing those clothes and that makeup
probably need to "stay on track" so they can get jobs writing fluffy
articles for New York fashion magazines. The reporter was nice
enough, but in the end she got paid real money, while unschooling was
shortchanged.
Still, Holly's life IS peaceful, even though we have only one
daffodil and not a field of flowers. Her brothers like her. She sat
in the hot tub with both her parents last night ("if it's okay with
you," she said, when she said she'd like to go in too). She finished
her brother's laundry so he and I could sleep. You can't photograph
that with any camera.
posted by Sandra Dodd @ 8:08 AM
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
April Morris
I have little green tips coming up, but we are weeks away from flowers. And
today it's raining ice. I don't like the cold and ice....but opening the
door this morning to get my newspaper I was greeting with the sound of ice
drops falling, in the quiet it sounded very cool......then someone begins to
attempt to chip the ice off their car and I was glad I could go back in
where it's warm. The boys and I are in a new 4-H club, our county moved an
historic barn to the county fairgrounds. It's 130 years old and absolutely
beautiful. The club is going to plant heirloom gardens around it. We've had
fun looking up heirloom plants for our area. Karl wants to do herbs, Ben
wants to find out vegetables. I prefer the flowers. Once we find a few of
each, we'll be getting some seeds and tyring to start them inside....just
like they did 130 years ago. Except that I know a lot of trading of cuttings
and roots took place for many of the plants....so we're having fun not just
learning about the plants, but how did they propagate and how did people
acquire the plants for their gardens. I'm looking longingly at my little
plots of land and waiting for spring.....but in the meantime, I'll grab my
hot coffee and look at sunny plots of land on-line....and enjoy Sandra's
flower!
~April
Mom to Kate-19, Lisa-17, Karl-14, & Ben-10.
*REACH Homeschool Grp, an inclusive group in Oakland County
http://www.reachhomeschool.com
* Michigan Unschoolers
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michigan_unschoolers/
*Check out Chuck's art www.artkunst23.com
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
Gandalf the Grey
today it's raining ice. I don't like the cold and ice....but opening the
door this morning to get my newspaper I was greeting with the sound of ice
drops falling, in the quiet it sounded very cool......then someone begins to
attempt to chip the ice off their car and I was glad I could go back in
where it's warm. The boys and I are in a new 4-H club, our county moved an
historic barn to the county fairgrounds. It's 130 years old and absolutely
beautiful. The club is going to plant heirloom gardens around it. We've had
fun looking up heirloom plants for our area. Karl wants to do herbs, Ben
wants to find out vegetables. I prefer the flowers. Once we find a few of
each, we'll be getting some seeds and tyring to start them inside....just
like they did 130 years ago. Except that I know a lot of trading of cuttings
and roots took place for many of the plants....so we're having fun not just
learning about the plants, but how did they propagate and how did people
acquire the plants for their gardens. I'm looking longingly at my little
plots of land and waiting for spring.....but in the meantime, I'll grab my
hot coffee and look at sunny plots of land on-line....and enjoy Sandra's
flower!
~April
Mom to Kate-19, Lisa-17, Karl-14, & Ben-10.
*REACH Homeschool Grp, an inclusive group in Oakland County
http://www.reachhomeschool.com
* Michigan Unschoolers
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michigan_unschoolers/
*Check out Chuck's art www.artkunst23.com
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
Gandalf the Grey
On 3/2/06, Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...> wrote:
>
> http://sandradodd.blogspot.com/
>
> You could go there to see it with the flower, but here's the text of
> something written today:
>
>
> Well, it's the first flower in MY yard. It's still working on opening
> up all the way. The color started to show on the last day of
> February. On the first day of March, the news said we had set a
> record for the driest winter in recorded history. The next day it
> rained�not much, but late afternoon when we were picking Marty up
> from the airport.
>
> Marty went to Legoland. He paid for his own airfare, and he bought
> viking Lego with his own debit card. The group outing was organized
> by Live and Learn Conference attendees and friends of theirs, who
> formed a mailing list for the western U.S., so there were others
> there he knew from the conference, and some unschoolers he hadn't met
> as well.
>
> When Marty was at Legoland, it rained. It rained the next day too. It
> was hot and dry in Albuquerque. By the time Marty's plane arrived
> here, it was raining, lightly. He brought photos of Legoland, full of
> flowers. He said Carlsbad, California, is full of flower-market
> flowers. We just got the first flower of the season.
>
> When Pam Sorooshian visited in January, I bought some not-quite-
> opened bulbs from Raley's where Marty works and brought them home so
> they could open, and later I could plant the bulbs in the yard for
> next year. Pam didn't know about forced bulbs, because she has always
> lived where flowers can bloom all year.
>
> I'm tired but content. The past couple of weeks were busy and
> productive and exhausting. Last night the house had just our family,
> and all of our family, though Marty and Kirby didn't see each other,
> and I went to bed early (for me, 10:00). Holly took care of making
> sure Marty's apron for work went into and came out of the dryer. I
> will thank her profusely, when she wakes up, this afternoon.
>
> OH! That reminds me. ElleGirl Magazine will have a half-page article
> (fullpage, but large stock art of a girl none of us knows) on
> unschooling in its April issue. The writer spent lots of time on the
> phone with three families, at least, but it doesn't much show. Her
> editor insisted she talk to college admissions officers. She asked me
> for contacts. I said that Roxana Sorooshian had just spoken with an
> advisor at St. John's College in Santa Fe that week, and she might
> call him. I warned her she was likely to talk to people who knew
> nothing about unschooling. She did. So along with several wan quotes
> from the unschoolers she interviewed, she had two more solid (but
> easily refutable) quotes from a school psychologist and a Harvard
> admissions person. The unschoolers quoted were Holly, Brenna and
> Roya. Others named were Kirby, Marty, Sandra and Gail, alll people we
> know. The other two were add-ons for "balance," but it wasn't balance
> so much as refutation by the unqualified-to-comment. Bummer. It could
> have been so much better, so easily.
>
> So how do I feel about Holly being used to help sell advertising for
> glittery eye make-up and studded handbags? If they hadn't talked to
> us they would have found other unschoolers. If they hadn't wasted our
> time it would've been someone else's. If I'd had a fancier camera,
> they'd've used photos of Holly instead of a stranger lying in a field
> of flowers. But their magazine is about appearances, and unschooling
> isn't much about appearances at all. Probably it just wasn't a very
> good match. Those interested in wearing those clothes and that makeup
> probably need to "stay on track" so they can get jobs writing fluffy
> articles for New York fashion magazines. The reporter was nice
> enough, but in the end she got paid real money, while unschooling was
> shortchanged.
>
> Still, Holly's life IS peaceful, even though we have only one
> daffodil and not a field of flowers. Her brothers like her. She sat
> in the hot tub with both her parents last night ("if it's okay with
> you," she said, when she said she'd like to go in too). She finished
> her brother's laundry so he and I could sleep. You can't photograph
> that with any camera.
>
>
>
> posted by Sandra Dodd @ 8:08 AM
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Cally Brown
>I have little green tips coming up,And here in Kauroa, New Zealand yesterday I noticed the first red leaves
>
of autumn on my nashi tree, just a couple of weeks after picking the
fruit. The days are still hot enough that I got sunburnt on Tuesday
while Jeff (15) and I spent the afternoon at the Waitakaruru Arboretum
and Sculpture Park, but the nights and mornings are chill. I'm hoping
for an Indian summer though - March is usually our hottest month.
Cally
Ticia
Very different from my past CA lifestyle (Pam's neighbor of sorts ;))
I have lately seen signs of spring, the daffodils (sp?) are coming up
and the frogs sang me a nighttime melody last night :).
Ticia
I have lately seen signs of spring, the daffodils (sp?) are coming up
and the frogs sang me a nighttime melody last night :).
Ticia
cathyandgarth
Not many signs of spring at this altitude yet! Although it was 61 on
the bank time/temp yesterday. When it gets to 60 at this time of year
it is just teasing us . . . we are the reverse of New Zealand, March
tends to be our coldest, snowiest month!
So, I am still looking forward to and hoping for some really good snow
days before the first flowers pop up here. (And all of you who live
south of us better to put some energy into this too -- since snow fall
has been light and water levels are low, it will effect the whole
Colorado River system. <g> KWIM?)
BUT, I am jealous of the wonderful weather and the flowers that so
many of you are enjoying!
All I can tell you about are gail force winds and huge herds mangey
looking elk grazing under the absolutely pristine, snow topped
Continental Divide, and flawless blue skies!
Cathy
the bank time/temp yesterday. When it gets to 60 at this time of year
it is just teasing us . . . we are the reverse of New Zealand, March
tends to be our coldest, snowiest month!
So, I am still looking forward to and hoping for some really good snow
days before the first flowers pop up here. (And all of you who live
south of us better to put some energy into this too -- since snow fall
has been light and water levels are low, it will effect the whole
Colorado River system. <g> KWIM?)
BUT, I am jealous of the wonderful weather and the flowers that so
many of you are enjoying!
All I can tell you about are gail force winds and huge herds mangey
looking elk grazing under the absolutely pristine, snow topped
Continental Divide, and flawless blue skies!
Cathy
Susan McGlohn
At 12:02 PM 3/4/2006, you wrote:
blossoming under the front bushes. Aaron was so excited, and proud that
this year he had spotted it first. We celebrated with ice cream!
The trees are starting to bud, the flower bulbs are pushing up greens, and
my allergies are beginning to really bug me, so yes, spring is on the way.
Susan M (VA)
http://radicalchristianunschool.homestead.com/index.html
"Real, natural learning is in the living. It's in the observing, the
questioning, the examining, the pondering, the analyzing, the watching, the
reading, the DO-ing, the living, the breathing, the loving, the Joy. It's
in the Joy." ~Anne Ohman
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>Not many signs of spring at this altitude yet!We saw our first flower on Ground Hog Day....a sweet little snow drop was
blossoming under the front bushes. Aaron was so excited, and proud that
this year he had spotted it first. We celebrated with ice cream!
The trees are starting to bud, the flower bulbs are pushing up greens, and
my allergies are beginning to really bug me, so yes, spring is on the way.
Susan M (VA)
http://radicalchristianunschool.homestead.com/index.html
"Real, natural learning is in the living. It's in the observing, the
questioning, the examining, the pondering, the analyzing, the watching, the
reading, the DO-ing, the living, the breathing, the loving, the Joy. It's
in the Joy." ~Anne Ohman
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]