25 days until spring but who is counting?

This past weekend Ken and I celebrated our 20th anniversary. It will be one we never forget! Our Saturday started with drama for Sid in the afternoon. After drama she stayed at her friends house for a sleepover while I took off for hockey. After hockey I got home picked up Ken and we headed out to his 4 Way Street gig. It was awesome. We had some friends come out and my brother Rick with his girlfriend Maria were there too. It was a super fun night that lasted until 3 a.m... ugh that is late! It was standing room only and the band rocked the house! Our friends Todd and Francine took some pictures so hopefully I will post them once I get them.

Sid had a wonderful time with her best friend and stayed up until 10:30 and woke up at 6:30. They were exhausted the next day but so happy! Here are the updates I got on my blackberry while I was watching Ken play.

The girls played outside in their fort

The girls watched a movie after a bath.

They are almost asleep *almost* (read NOT!!!!)

Thank you Magda, Dave and Isabella for taking such fabulous care of Sid. You gave us the BEST gift ever... peace of mind (oh and a nice sleep in the next morning!)

pic by Magda!

Yesterday we rented an indoor agility arena for an hour of fun. The old gal Groovy remembered some of her tricks but tired out pretty quickly with all the puppy play involved. She and Zuni are becoming great doggy friends but Groovy is going to have to build up her stamina. It is tough keeping up with a pup!

Groovy ready to go~

pic by Magda
Going to getcha Zuni!

pic by Magda

Whoa!

pic by Magda
How cute is that little aire-bum???

After watching Kung-Fu Panda and loving it, Sid decided to become a Super Sid Kung FU super hero.

This girl means business!

We tried our hand at wet felting on Monday. We made a hair tie from scraps of wool I had lying around. It looks kind of ratty but very cute once in the hair!

And saving the best for last!!!! Here are two more of Ken's songs. Now that the gig is over he is going back in studio to start laying down the beds to his originals. Soon we'll be hearing more than just the demos :)



This is Welcome To the World. Written for Sid when she was still in my tummy :)

To Survive. Written about 25 years ago.

Sharing Some Insight

I read this post from Radio Free School http://radiofreeschool.blogspot.com/ yesterday and it seems to still be resonating inside me. I thought this was good grounds for sharing.

10 Unschooling Mistakes You Want to Avoid

1.Comparing.

I believe that the root of all evil is comparison. When you find yourself about to do the "is my child keeping up?" or the "her child is better at piano then mine, and they're the same age," just stop. Don't do it.
When you look at another unschooling mum and back at yourself and feel that you fall short, don't go there. Rather, allow her to inspire you; don't feel down.

2.Believing that everyone should agree with you.

This is the attitude of any newbie. I remember how militant I was when I first became a vegetarian (I no longer am-a vegetarian). I couldn't tolerate people who weren't. I must have been an insufferable 'know it all.' I know I certainly annoyed people.

3. Getting offended/feeling hurt when people don't (agree with you).

The world owes you nothing. If someone tosses you a dubious look or expresses doubt in what you are doing-deal with it in a mature way. Learn not to take yourself so seriously. Laugh.

4.If there really is a problem, being afraid of admitting it.

Your kids are unruly, or they really don't seem to be 'getting it'-there might actually be an underlying cause for it. Or they don't seem to have any interests. Don't panic.You can still uphold your values and raise a child that is learning naturally. Get the support you need.

5. Expecting your kids to be best buddies and get along all the time, just because they're unschooled.

They fight. They say they hate one another. That's okay. We can't choose our family but we share as heck have to learn to get along. That's one advantage of unschooling. They HAVE to work it out because they spend so much time together.

6.Expecting your kids to become educated by osmosis.

This is magical thinking. They won't. You have to engage them. You have to make sure they get exposure to a wide range of activity.

7. Thinking that you are their one and all.

Share them.

8. Over-protectiveness.

Let them venture forth according to their strengths, age and ability.
Be sensitive to the needs of the changing and growing child.

9.Having to proof that unschooling works-especially in BIG ways.

Funnily enough-BIG gets redefined over and over and you realize that they are doing BIG things but not in the way you and others might have envisioned it. And remember, behind a shining star, there might be an even brighter star shining so be careful not to block that light because of your belief in the first.

10. Immediate evidence of 'learning' taking place.

Relax. You will be amazed at how what you angst-ed over last year is all but a distant memory this year. Learning unfolds-often with out us noticing.

It was -7 out, not -20 like the previous day but it was still really cold with the gusting wind. The first trek around the property was to create the 2 ft deep ski trails, the second lap worked out much better :)

This picture was taken of Groovy on Sunday after a walk in the woods. The temperature was 5 so the knee deep snow was a bit sticky. It really slowed her down... poor pup.

This week Ken and Sid were both on TV at different times for different reasons. Wow these two are hard to keep up with!

Sid drew this picture and had me send it in to CJOH

J.J. Clarke, the local weather man featured it on Tuesday nights news as the Weather Watcher Picture of the day!

On Monday morning Ken was on TV on the Rogers Daytime show. He was backing up musician friend Andy Mason. He had to be at the studio super early to tape the songs. You can see them here:

Morning Train
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHT2soAl4O4

Barbwire Blues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PavxFlfw7s

Andy Mason is one of the musicians playing with Ken in 4Way Street and one of the guys who Ken will have back him up on his album.
4Way Street is playing this Saturday at the Royal Oak in Gloucester. Should be a great time!

I am so proud of my family!

Following Our Dreams

Sidney has a joy of life that Ken and I want to celebrate. When she is moved by an idea, a passion, a dream, she embraces it and "goes for it!". She is here teaching us as adults that we too can do the same.

Sidney strolled into the kitchen with all her science stuff and said. Today we are being scientists and doing experiments! So we did.

.
Invisible Ink Experiment. Lemon juice and q-tips on paper. Lemon juice mixed with water dilutes the carbon and it will come out almost clear on paper.

When heated the carbon in the lemon juice turns brown and the writing can be seen!

We also spent some time turning the wick up on the lantern and playing with the smoke patterns. So cool!

Then for something really cool... snow art and colour mixing. What happens when......

This was just plain fun. We hypothesised about what would happen once all the snow melted.

Our answers were recorded then it was off for some silliness while we waited for the snow to melt.

Cat Ballet / Tap which is why there are four sets of shoes of course!

Look Mom, I am a Barbie!!!!

Ken is embracing his dream to share his music with the world. He is working so hard at his business during the day and playing and rehearsing many nights of the week. He is going for it and while it is time consuming and work it is also rocks his soul and grounds him.

Hahaha, an old picture of Ken and I at Rick's Place when we used to gig as Acoustically Challenged.

I have been driven to needle felt almost everyday because I find joy, calmness and pride in the work. I buy my supplies at a wool store which embraces spinning, weaving, knitting and felting and got brave enough to bring in my wares this week. They always ask what I am making but I never go into much detail so Friday I brought a small sample of the things I can make. The store owner was really impressed and one of the employees commissioned some work from me. To top that, I have been asked to teach needle felting workshops. Yup, they are going to pay me to teach workshops at their store on the weekends. :) I am thrilled, shocked and also confident that this is what following your passion is about.

This is a recent commission called Angel Face. She is a Leucistic Black capped Chickadee which means she has an albino gene that causes white pigment in her feathers.

A friend of the client who commissioned this work, used to see this bird daily on his walks for the last 9 years. He became quite attached to her and would feed her and she would fly to him when she saw him coming. She has not been seen in the last three months so they suspect she has reached the end of her life span. This replica of Angel Face will sit in the gentleman's home to remind him of this friendship.

My newest creations that are turning heads are these Wee Beasties with the Wee, Wee Beastie Babes. I have been trying to make a few different ones for stock for a craft fair this year and I have been getting some commissions from them! They are unique and draw a lot of ooohhhh's and ahhhhh's. Marsupial Monsters, check them out!

Babes in pouch.

Babes out of pouch.

I have also started to plan for Valentines day. Here is what I have come up with so far. I hope to bring them to the workshops and sell them there. They will be 8.00 a piece or three for 20.00. Roses that last forever!

So thank you Sidney for showing us what life learning is about, for teaching us to be passionate about what moves us and for guiding us in our own journey to find our dreams.

Oh Deer!

My Lil' Tree Hugger :)


After a nice long Christmas and New Years break with family we got to reconnect with some of our friends this week with the first Nature Club meeting for 2011! We decided to meet at Old Quarry Trail where the deer are quite tame. We loaded our pockets and backpacks with apples and carrots and hit the trail. It was quite nice at only -2 but the wind was deceptively chilly. We had 5 families show up for a total of 7 kids and 6 adults.
Not exactly a small quiet group to entice deer, however, we did get them to come close enough to sample some carrots. There were at least three other people there separately trying to feed the deer with one photographer chasing them through the woods so they were really timid. Maybe we will go back alone with just one friend in a week or two and try our luck again. The company was fabulous and it was really nice to be out in the woods again.

These two deer were the brave ones that sampled our treats. We saw at least 4 others including a mom and fawn.

On the lookout for deer.

Bella decides this bush looks like a good spot for a snack.

Cool fort. Sabine climbed so high we lost her for a bit :)

Heading back to the car, after about an hour hands and feet were getting cold!

Back at home we have gone back to enjoying our woods now that there is snow again. Lots of fox, deer and cotton tail tracks to follow here. Due to the thaw there was a lot of ice in the low spots and in the ditch. Sid discovered that she could be pulled across the ice by the dogs. The pups weren't to pleased with the idea.

Once the holidays were over and we had no more guests dropping in I told Sid she could set up her Playmobile land. The first thing Monday the 3rd she got right to it!

Sid just loves playmobile and can play with it for hours. We have all the components for the vet clinic, and we have the zoo and horse wash. For Christmas Uncle Rick bought her the Dragon Castle and she was ecstatic with the new edition. The castle guards the town of course and it shoot rubber tipped arrows so she can keep the dangerous Bairedales from attacking the village.

Five is soooo funny. Sid is full of tales and stories and made up things here is one that she came up with the other day. I happened to be at the computer so started taking dictation. Now, keep in mind, this is soooo five year old......

Sid:
Have you ever heard of the country called Fartingparlour. It is this place where every two minutes people fart, every two minutes! So it is really stinky there. And there is rotten banana peels, rotten oranges and all sorts of stinky stuff and farting people. Even the governor general actually farts every two minutes. Every person in that country farts every two minutes unless they are from this country and that is just where their cottage is.

Kenny is working hard trying to lean 24 songs in 6 weeks. He has been asked to join 4Way Street, a Crosby Stills and Nash cover band. He has played with many of them in the past but they want to back him with his originals so they are going to do a few gigs together, the first is coming up on February 12th.

Here is another one of Ken's originals, written over 20 years ago called Sentimental sweetheart.

This next song has great potential to really rock with the full band and harmonies behind it. It is called How Low, totally different from the first two I have posted. Enjoy!