My first quick takes Friday!
1. We're rereading The Long Winter. My vote for the spookiest passage in all of children's literature is when they find the cattle by the haystacks after that first blizzard. That book would make an amazing movie (if done right). The dark clouds coming from the northwest, the desperate search for grain, the walk home from the school house blinded by the blizzard? Someone get on that.
2. I'm still loving Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. I make up a batch on Monday and my children have fresh bread for breakfast every day of the week. And I can make each boule small enough to where I can't snack on the leftovers. That's been the biggest problem with bread baking in the past. I would eat it.
3. We've been watching the Olympics. My son expressed some interest in ice skating, so I let him watch men's figure skating. I thought he might like the sparkly outfits and impressive jumps. His response: "That's skating just for fun, not for winning. I want to skate like hockey."
4. Do you know how you stumble on a formula that really works and then abandon it after a few weeks when your schedule changes? I'm back to making a list of responsibilities for my daughter. I printed it out in weekly chunks and it is working beautifully. She crossed off all her lessons with no whining at all. She loves having it all listed out for her and enjoys the feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day. And I'm not forgetting entire subjects throughout the week.
5. Did anyone else choose to work on Class 3 and Class 8 in Journey North because the math (at least for now) is really, really easy? We chose other classes too, but these were a given.
6. I gave up Ravelry for Lent. :( This struck me as a grand idea on Wednesday night. A little late, but it's fitting so I'm going with it.
7. And this morning we found the corner that spring was just around. (HT: Frog and Toad)
Good morning. Giving up Ravelry is tough. I'm going to join you on that one, but what about the Ravelympics???
Posted by: Carmen | February 19, 2010 at 08:06 AM
There's always Sunday! I can post my project then.
Posted by: Jennifer | February 19, 2010 at 08:16 AM
Yes, of course, Sundays!!!
Posted by: Carmen | February 19, 2010 at 08:37 AM
it's lovely to see you doing Seven Quick Takes! I agree with you about The Long Winter. I read The Children's Blizzard and thought often of Laura's book, and how it would make a powerful movie.
Your son sounds just like my daughter ;-) It's no fun unless it's about "doing it properly", ie, for winning!
I love the sound of your dd's school structure. It must be great for encouraging independence and self-responsibility in her.
Posted by: sarah | February 19, 2010 at 11:19 AM
We are going to be reading The Long Winter soon! We have been working our way through all the books.
Posted by: Amy Caroline | February 20, 2010 at 12:07 PM
I might try making some fresh bread this week myself. Top idea.
Posted by: 12ontheinside | February 20, 2010 at 06:47 PM
1. Loved the bread book link.
2. I hope the Olympics included that great hockey game last night.
3. I think I just read my first knitting post.
Posted by: francis shivone | February 22, 2010 at 05:59 PM