Serious Wrongdoing

We were in the Big City today when the driver in front of us turned left on a red light. Devastatingly Handsome commented and Mr Music wanted to know what was so bad about it. So we talked about that being the kind of mistake that is more likely to kill people than to result in a fender bender.


And then came one of those moments when I am pretty convinced I have been homeschooling a little too long.


I heard myself say, "It's not as bad by dividing by zero, but it is very dangerous."

Happy Reformation Day from my toes to yours.

Um, I am not much of a nail artist. The idea is “95” on a door... and the part that looks like I got extra black at the top, well, that is actually where I dropped the kitchen scissors on my foot about a month ago. I do not recommend that as a good way to celebrate.

Art Class, Again

We finished our art projects, based on this post about Rizzo's style. 


Starting with Mr Music's salute to the Pierogie racers at the ballfield (notes: 1. Mr Music says it's not done and 2. I loved that my camera knew the eyes on the pierogie to the right were eyes):

Then Miss Dog Lover's awesome self-portrait:

and my alizarin crimson whale:

I am amazed when we do a project like this with clear instructions and end up with such different results. Creativity is a great thing.  :)

Benedict Holmes

I have loved Sherlock Holmes since I met him in junior high school. Now I am enjoying the Benedict Cumberbatch series - so much fun.

The other night I realized one reason I like the way he is dressed, his scarf, and his hair - he reminds me of another literary character I love: 

Watch out for baobabs, Benedict!

Where Does This Stuff Come From?

Mr Music has still not outgrown the continuous question stage. Two I liked recently:
* if you shoot caps off inside, can you start a fire? (I opted to not suggest experimentation as a good way to find out, despite the science lessons he is taking)
* Two bees are fighting. What should you do about it?


And Miss Dog Lover? Today she was explaining something about a dream:  when I see something in dreams I see the form but there’s black and white mixed in it. And when I try to eat it it has no taste so I know I’m asleep and I pinch myself and wake up and it works well.  (All I can say about that one is that her dreams make as much sense as mine.)

Sock It To Me

Mr Music, Miss Dog Lover, and I finally did a craft I copied from a blogland friend, called Sock Monkey Portraits. Doesn't even the name sound like fun? 

Ours are not as skillfully wrought or photographed as hers, but we had a good and silly time making them. 


First, let me introduce Miss Dog Lover's Bride Monkey. I love the way she made the gown:

Then, Mr Music's Pirates player #22, Andrew McCutchen. He was so clever about cutting up old ballfield programs and got the "22" from an old calendar:

and finally, my Mom Monkey:

Hope you have fun making some, too!

That Phase of the Moon

*disclaimer: this post makes no claims to hold any insight into life, the universe, or anything*


Miss Dog Lover, today, looking at the calendar, "Tonight we get a full moon."


Me, stirring oatmeal, "Yep."


Miss Dog Lover, "We keep getting full moons."


Me, "Pretty much every 28 days."


Miss Dog Lover, "They're nice."   :)

Totally Frederick

This weekend we here in Bananaland are experiencing the glorious sunny bright days of fall. Perfect.


And on these days I always feel like Leo Lionni's Frederick, "gather(ing) sun rays for the cold dark winter days." Today I find myself humming snatches from two songs as I hang laundry, do yard patrol, walk the dog, pull weeds, paint my nails outside, anything to gather some more sun rays.

First, an old kids' song with the chorus: 

God’s love is warmer than the warmest sunshine, 

  softer than a sigh. 

 God’s love is deeper than the deepest ocean, 

  wider than the sky. 

 God’s love is brighter than the brightest star 

  that shines every night above; 

 And there is nothing in this world 

  that can ever change His love.  

and second, the swelling part of an old Genesis song: 
The warming sun, the cooling rain
The snowflake drifting on the breath of the breeze
The lightning bolt that clears the sky for you
Yet only eagles seem to pass on through

Nerds (Make that "Scholars") R Us

Mr Music and I have been enjoying learning about different types of gladiators in his Latin course. Last week we came across tile mosaics showing gladiators. We have especially liked the retiarii. They were used tridents and nets for defense and often beat the more heavily armed murmillones just because they were light on their feet. 


Anyhow, maybe you know you are nerds scholars when you see something like this:

and notice the thetas down by the fallen - that stands for thanatos, Greek for death. But you know you are a nerd when you think, oh so that is how they did it before they thought of Xs on the eyes.   :-P