a gypsy caravan

this kitten who followed me home last week

is not staying here.  Nope, not staying.  Go home kitty.  Hurry along.

Go on now. 

More Comments on Final Post

My Final Post

Dear Friends,

I want to thank each of you for visiting our family here for the past eighteen months. You have shared in our many joys, trials and travels so it is bittersweet for me to tell you that this will be my final blog post.

It is my desire to spend less time online and more time with family and on making my home a lovely place to live. While so many of you have learned to find that balance between family life and the internet, I have struggled to do so.

My three blogs, A Gypsy Caravan, Babylove and Heart of the Kitchen, will remain up until the end of this calendar month and then they will be deleted. I do apologize to any of you who have linked my sites as those links will no longer work after that time. If there is anything here that you desire to keep, copy or use, please feel free to do so.

I feel such gratitude to have been a part of this generous and caring community. Thank you all for visiting my family and for all of the kind comments you have left to encourage us. May God richly bless you, your families and all your endeavors.

Much love,
Rebecca

If it Ain’t Broke…

Over a year ago, I decided to step away from a Charlotte Mason education and lean towards another popular method/book as a spine.  (For the sake of this post, I will call that method/book "The Wonderbook".)  I was intrigued by the academic thoroughness and organization this book had to offer. The Wonderbook seemed ever so advanced, so well thought out in its cyclical approach to many of the subjects it covered.  No longer would I cover language arts through dictation, copywork and narration but rather would teach each one with a separate text or workbook; a spelling book, a writing book, a grammar book, a handwriting program, etc. 

While I pondered whether an elementary or middle school student could ever keep up with the workload suggested in The Wonderbook, I told myself that perhaps the gentle approach to learning that we had been using was too lenient, too old fashioned and romantic to really provide a fine education.  Maybe I was fooling myself that things had worked well thus far.  In fact, my kids rarely complained about their lessons which was a sure sign in my mind that I was being too easy on them. Perhaps the systematic absorption of knowledge by means of a meticulously planned curriculum was the road to take. It was sure not to fail, right?

Hmmm... I should have known.

The years prior, we had really been enjoying our Charlotte Mason education.  Locksley loved learning and was growing secure in his ability to narrate.  His spelling and punctuation were coming along nicely due to the short phrases and paragraphs he was writing during dictation.   There was a comfortable rhythm to our days, structured but not severe, learning without cramming, full of opportunities to pursue our interests and enjoy time together as a family.  We had been having a daily tea time, listening to stories of the saints, spending an afternoon each week in nature study at our local Arboretum.   The boys were keeping beautiful notebooks of poetry they had memorized, bible stories they had illustrated, nature notebooks full of sketches of their latest finds.   We were studying an artist and a composer each term and making connections with both. 

All of this came to a screeching halt when I decided justlikethat to follow The Wonderbook.  After using it for just two months, there was no longer any time for the things we loved.  We were barely scraping the surface trying to keep up with the recommendations.  Lessons were taking most of the day (when we did them) .  The other days we did nothing rather than attempt the impossible.  Gone were our free afternoons.  I began to see that while my children were learning bits and pieces of information to regurgitate, they did not know any of it intimately.  The scope was broad but shallow.

All the while that we used The Wonderbook, we continued to read great literature at bedtime.   I found that whenever the children read from their book lists (or were read to aloud), they formed relationships with the characters and the stories.  They remembered people and places in history and their love of learning shone like a candle flickering in the darkness. 

Last month, I shelved The Wonderbook.  It was high time to do so. 

We have since reacquainted ourselves with some comfortable old favorites: narration, dictation and copywork.   We have reinstated a daily teatime.  Together, we sit and read aloud on the sofa each day: History, Latin, Bible stories, Catechism and more.  We have begun a study on Monet since there is an exhibit in town highlighting his artwork.  The kids who had grown rusty from over a year of not paying very close attention, of information overload, are remembering the small details of  the stories as they narrate them back to me. 

I have hope.  Returning to a Charlotte Mason education has been like getting together with a friend whom I hadn't seen in a long while.   

I have missed you, my friend, and am glad to be back in your midst.

What Color Red Are You?

You Are Crimson Red

Down to earth and warm-hearted, you instantly make everyone feel at ease around you. And while you have an understated passion - you lack the uncontrolled passion of most other reds. You prefer to sit back and enjoy every situation life has to offer. You put an optimistic spin on everything. And even when things are going well, you don't get too amped up. You prefer to keep your emotions as steady as possible. What Color Red Are You? HT: Jenn and Kathryn

This One Couldn’t Wait ‘Til After the Christmas Season

Alice Cantrell, the author of Sewing with St. Anne has begun a sweet blog about sewing, crafting and more.  Please stop by and visit  A Number of Things and welcome Alice into the world of blogdom!

Let it Snow!

Please, God?  We need a few more inches. I want to make these!

Don't miss Mary's really lovely blog called Our Domestic Church. 

Then, go play in the snow with your kids. :)

A New Look

A Gypsy Caravan has a new header photo!  Many of you might wonder just how many times I am going to change my photo. :) You might know that I love to decorate, paint rooms and move furniture around my home for a new look.  I suppose this blog is no different!  This photo is used with kind permission from The Gypsy Caravan Company of the United Kingdom.  These wonderful folks create beautiful, colorful gypsy caravans for both children and adults alike.

10 Random Facts About Me

For Dawn, who tagged me.  :)

1.  I am an only child.

Which, frankly, was kind of dull.  I always hoped for siblings but got stuffed animals instead.  Not quite the same.  :)

2.  I have difficulty making friends and knowing how to be one.

See #1. I had older parents who were not especially social.  We did not have people over to visit or play very often, except my grandfather who came for Sunday dinner.  I still seem to fluctuate between overwhelming my friends or inadvently neglecting them.  I am not very good at finding the balance.  So for those of you reading this who are my friends, thank you for putting up with me :)

3.  I love rice pudding.

Don't bring the stuff near me! I will eat the whole container in one fell swoop!  Not only homemade but especially that Kozy Shack brand from the grocery store.  Keep it away!

4.  I was in the circus as a child.

Just once. :) In 1976, the Ringling Bros. came to town and I was chosen to perform in a bicentennial tribute.  Basically, I marched around the ring with several other children wearing  red, white and blue sequinned outfits and capes, waving Old Glory.  It was very fun!

5.  I was the homecoming queen of my graduating class.

But I must qualify that sentence and tell you that to this day, I am convinced it was a miscount. :)

6.  I make up ridiculous nicknames names for my babies.

Like Hunka Chunka Chocolate, Peanut Buttercup, Little Teeny Tatertot and other oddities.   They are so sweet and delicious that usually their invented names revolve around food.

7.  I am a water person.

I love to swim, sail and have been known to take far too long in the bathtub.   My parents always owned a sailboat.  We spent each summer sailing Lake Erie, visiting many small islands.  Another little known fact, I used to do synchronized swimming as a teenager and young woman. 

8.  I am afraid of ledges.

Not heights, just ledges.  You know those open staircases where you can see the ground as you crawl walk up?  Yikes! Hate 'em.  You know the glass railings in tall office buildings where you can see the people walking on the floors down below?  Nope, can't do those. 

9.  I love country music.

...though I don't get to listen much anymore (as I don't have much time alone in the car these days--not that I am complaining.  I'd rather have the kids with me than be able to play the radio anyday! ). I have seen many folks in concert such as George Strait, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, and others.  My alterego wears boots. 

10.  I spend way too much time at library booksales.

Because who can resist bringing $10 and coming home with forty books?  Our library is having a sale next weekend. Yea!

  The reality is that libraries around here are getting rid of all the books I want in their booksales and buying, well, Elmo and Bob the Builder books with the profits.  Not that I have anything against Elmo, but he isn't exactly great literature now is he ?  Though, I can admit he is sort of endearing with that cute red fuzzy face and those gangly legs.  "Happy tapping with EL-mo!"  Why is it that he always speaks in the third person?  "Elmo wants to be Telly's friend."  or "Elmo so happy to see you!"   

11.  See #10--I talk too much. :)

Tagging:

Cheryl

Kim

Kathryn

Meredith

Sarah

Blog Tidying

I have decided to add my Heart of the Kitchen blog posts to the archives here.  I will be deleting that blog after the switcheroo is complete.  For now, I will be keeping Babylove where it is.  Those of you who subscribe through Bloglines may get quite a few recipe reposts during  the next couple of weeks.  Please bear with me while I get it all worked out.  Thanks :)!

Combining Blogs

I have not posted much on my other two blogs these days.  I am deciding whether to combine the posts here at A Gypsy Caravan or to keep them separate.  I could add the Babylove posts and Heart of the Kitchen recipes in the sidebar...just a thought.   Let me know what you think.

Something Different For A Change

Well, whaddya think about this look?  Like it?  Hate it?  Cast your votes in the comment section.

Personally, I love the photo but needed to find a template header font that is not white.  That leaves about two choices from the ready-made Typepad templates.   It would be nice to design my own template but I am an amateur in all things computer and the Typepad CSS Professional Consultant of the Real Learning forums happens to be packing her entire life and moving across these United States of America, or else I would ask her for help.   :)  I do think the grey border blends too much with the black and white photo but Oh well... 

And no, that is not my family, although I do have a similar photo of my grandfather's family (minus the caravan) who did happen to be Roma (or Gypsy) somewhere in my personal photo piles files.  I will try to unearth it sometime and use it for my header in the future.  In the meantime, enjoy someone else's family who closely resembles mine in number and generally dishevelled appearance!  :)

Typepad needs some new templates

I am getting bored with the same templates for this blog but I do not want to take the time to create my own.  The last time I tried my hand at creatively designing my own, one night late in the wee hours,  my blog ended up looking really scary.  I went back to to "Blue Crush", my old standby, after two hours of wasted time creating a frightening mess. 

This one is called "Powell Street".  I have no idea why.  I have used it two or three other times and it is simply acceptable. 

Attention Typepad template designers!

I would like a template with some deep, rich autumnal colors, similar to those in my living room, dining room and kitchen, kind of a Pottery Barn meets Tuscany look.  Although I have never been to Tuscany, I imagine it being warm on the color wheel, a definite autumn.  You know, a paper bag brown, some golden wheat, a bit of brick red scarlet and olive (but not like the 1970's refrigerators).  I would like the typeface to be a dark brown, the color of mahogany.  Perhaps you can throw in some falling leaves in the header, not goofy cartoony looking ones but real gorgeous leaves slowly drifting to the bottom of my blog.  If a scent could be added, I would like to request "Creamy Nutmeg" candle scent from Bath and Body Works.  Or better yet, Burt's Bee's Baby Powder and Apricot Baby Oil Scent.  Yum.  ( maybe I better save that last scent for Babylove... )  Blog flavor would be Chianti Classico Riserva or perhaps warm basil pesto with crisply baked whole wheat pita for dipping.   

Thank you, dear and faithful readers, for indulging me by reading this ridiculous post.  I certainly did not deserve your attention all of this time.   :)

Spring break

Due to Spring cleaning and a short family trip, I will not be posting for a few days.  In the meantime, enjoy the archives and all the other ladies' lovely blogs in my sidebar!  Thanks for stopping by and see you soon!

My New Blogsite

Welcome to my new blogsite!  I am ever so excited about my "move" and all the fun features Typepad offers!  Unfortunately, all of my previous Blogger comments that mean so much to me could not be imported into my new site.   Many thanks to Lissa for helping me make the move smoothly!  Thanks so much for visiting...