Winter 2023

"Always winter and never Christmas." 

That's the current mood in the winter season. I've heard from several just today and Harrison has been bringing it up ~ they are ready for winter to be over. 

It's the cold, wet, snowy-but-not-the-fun-kind, dreary, no-holiday-to-look-forward-to part of the winter season.

I have to say for myself: "I am enjoying it." 

I like to have the excuse (along with everyone else) to stay home and drink hot drinks and read books. The go-go seasons will be here soon enough. 

I say, Stay inside and hibernate and enjoy it!

Just think how much better that sunrise looks in real life. Unbelievable beauty.

Harrison made a snow angel in this quarter inch of snow.

The cats and kittens are all doing well! 

They frisk around with the least bit of sunshine and warmth.

Jonathan and Harrison have a Minecraft world together. Or something like that. Anyway, they've been connecting on Minecraft on two separate computers. Maybe this will continue once Jon heads to college. Harrison is going to miss him.....

I did a workshop at on online Charlotte Mason conference last week. This was a first. I did a talk about reading lessons way back when Delightful Reading came out. This went better than that. (That was in person; this was over Zoom.) 

We had tech issues (internet stopped; phone as a hotspot kept pinging; I finally just entered the meeting on my phone and did it from there). But we got it done! It went okay. I was super nervous and couldn't really concentrate on much else but getting through the presentation. I wish I had answered questions better and also been able to look at people's faces. I also didn't get a look at the number of attendees, but the other workshops had between 30 and 50. It was an experience! I'm grateful that Donna at Mentoring Our Own (picture above) gave me the chance to speak. There was much encouragement and many great ideas throughout the week.

I've been listening to Jessica's (above) podcast and really enjoying it. She also spoke at the conference. One of the cool things about her podcast is that it isn't just for homeschoolers but for families in general and teachers in other schools. She brings in current research along with Charlotte Mason's thoughts. 

Amos and Lanaya Elizabeth came to visit. So glad! 

(Lanaya made the sweater she's wearing ~ amazing.)

The kids all went to Hannibal to hang out on Friday. And we pretty much just talked and hung out while they were here. Oh, we finally signed her car over to her. She paid for her car, but it has been in our name. Hopefully she can get all that "new to a state" stuff done over in Oklahoma. 

We celebrated Phillip's birthday while they were here. 

Playing the game Elizabeth gave the kids for Christmas. 

It's a good way to get to know each other, since this game makes you feel particularly like you don't even know your own kids: Worst-Case Scenario card game. 

Amos and Lanaya are heading back home and stopped to see his brother and family.

Subtle sunset.

Winter is not forever.