Samhain

Samhain Blessings from me and Myster C. Our candles are lit and our pumpkins carved.

A poem by Sabrina Dearborn taken from The Barefoot Book of Blessings

At this time of dark and night,

spirits often give a fright.

We call upon the ancient dead,

circling now around our head.

Bring the blessings from before,

while we stand with open door.

Ancient spirits hear us now,

peace and love we do avow.

Science Stuff

Recently we've been learning about the carbon and nitrogen cycles, and everything linked to that, as part of our ongoing semi stuctured, but only cos we've got a book we like and are ploughing through it when we feel like it, usually on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning. We like our experiments too and we record what we do in picture form with labels. That's how we've always done it. Our pictures just have more labels these days.

But also I just wanted to add in two brilliant science learning sessions that arose out of life. Its how home ed works for us and why it's just so blooming fantastic.

One day I was washing up, yes it happens occasionally, and I'd run the water a little too hot and as I was thinking that very thought "mmm this water's a little hot", a glass broke into my hand and cut my finger rather badly. Within in minutes I was set for a part in a horror movie with blood running down my arm at an alarming rate and bits of tissue stuck all over the place. I kid you not. Anyway eventually it calmed down, Myster C lovingly legged it to the corner shop, as I couldn't find the plasters, for some more. Any way the conversation turned to the broken glass and the how and the why of its demise. Half an hour or learning and looking up all about the effect of heat on metals, stone and glass and all about thermal shock. The particular glass in question had rather a thick bottom which just didn't heat up as quick as the rest and hey presto, it shattered under the pressure of 1000 lbs per square inch apparently.

Another day I was running a bath, trying to sneak a moment of calm and solitude, but Myster C went and turned the tap on in the kitchen for something and no water came out. He was a bit put out that my bath was stealing his water and set to find out why. Ten minutes of turning taps on and off, wondering whether the different types of tap made a difference, was it the distance from the heater, was it the direction they faced or was it the size of taps and pipes. Finally he sussed it. Water pressure and the distance of the tap from the ground with the water taking the easiest option to go downhill again. The lowest tap had the monopoly. Science stuff sorted. I eventually had my bath. Lukewarm solitude sorted.

Modern Exam and Ballet Shoes

Myster C did his Modern Dance Grade 2 exam today. He's been practicing really hard. Up and down the hallway. In the bedroom. At the table he's been counting and in the car his feet have been marking. I've heard the same pieces of music 20 times a day and now it's all done. He came out of the exam really happy so hopefully he's passed with a good mark.

We've also bought his black ballet leggings and socks and a dance bag. Quite a cool messenger style one with Dancers Do It With Attitude on. The school he goes to gave him his ballet shoes, a not very used second hand pair. They are black. He came home and put the lot on. He's well happy and it just feels different. There is definitely something about a first pair of ballet shoes. Even Myster C said so. He wants to keep them forever.

Myster C The Dancer

Myster C dances. He's always danced. He was about two and half or three when he first asked for lessons. So I took him to various places. At first we could only find strict ballet madams and classes of pink girls in tutus or ballroom classes. It was a no go. Then we found some where special. He started a jazz class about age four with a group of older girls. The class got bigger and he refused to dance. He was overwhelmed. I had to sit in with him and he hid under my chair and clung to my legs. After a month or so we gave up. But Myster C wanted to dance. Then we found out the special place had started a little boys street class so he started that. He loved it. Then came the show. Three showings over two days in a four hundred seat theatre. They did their routine to the A team theme. It was such a success the boys class doubled. He still loved it. The following year's show they danced to the Men In Black. The boys class split in to two with Myster C in the more able class. Then he decided to do Jazz. So he did that too and was in two routines for the next show. All his friends came to watch. After the show he decided he was going to do Modern too. Then this week his teachers and the proprietor have told him he does have potential and if he's serious and works hard they will give him Ballet for free because they know I just can't afford any more. I'm made up and he's chuffed to bits. And thats it. He wants to be a dancer. He'll be in four routines in the show in February next year. I can't wait. He's the only boy at that school who does Jazz, Modern and Ballet. Such a proud mum right now. Can you tell!!

Tempus fugit

Okay ..... so I somehow lost track of September, its not that hard to do. We've been having too much fun in the first of the Autumn rays and been to busy being us to blog ..... oh and my life began again at 40 (apparently). I may try and deny that later on although I think a few friends have photographic evidence of me with wings, a tiara and silver shoes celebrating the occasion.

Here's a quick list of the more memorable things we've been up to since our last post; a visit to Lulworth Castle complete with jousting knights and a flirtatious jester, A Not Back To School Picnic at Salisbury Cathedral, a very special day at Stonehenge, some Aboriginal Art, a visit to Hurst Castle and a boat ride back. Of course there has been the usual lost hairbrushes, plant biology, smelly socks, picnics, cooking, messy bedrooms, maths, mini conversations in French, endless repeats of Friends (Myster C is hooked!!), meeting up with real friends, dancing and gymnastics in between.