Gerbilarium and chalk problems

Do you like our latest addition? I love making toys for the children. I made this little fellow yesterday at Miles' request but he's already got some stuffing coming out. I think he's been involved in some very lively play today!

 

This afternoon we made a gerbilarium. Craig helped to make a hole in the cage and attach it to a tank which we drilled ventilation holes in. They love it and I have to say I'm becoming really quite smitten with them. Their fingers and toes are seriously cute.

 

We have read the Butterfly Lion in the past but are re reading as it's our Book Club title this month. We all take an activity to Book Club and I was hoping to do some science experiments with chalk. I wanted to show how absorbent it is as I think this ties in nicely with the story - the butterflies come to the chalk lion to drink. Ah well, it was all very good in theory but the experiment didn't work. I then realised that most chalk you buy for black boards isn't actually chalk at all. It's a kind of plaster and colourings mixture. So, where to buy some 'real' chalk? I have found plenty on the Internet but don't really want to be paying £10 plus or so for some chalk. Any ideas?

Also, can anyone recommend where to get cheap rock samples for science? I want lots of different rock samples for experiments, but again they all seem very pricey, particularly considering I want to use them in a way which will essentially break them down - experiments about erosion etc.

Jumping back to talk of our Book Club, our local library has agreed to give us a group ticket so that we can order multiple copies of a set book in advance. Hopefully this will mean that all families will be able to take that months title away with them at the end of Book Club and return it the following month. This will be great as sometimes much of the month is spent tracking down the book and then having to rush to read it in the last week.

I feel really lucky that I live in an area where there are lots of active, go getting and community spirited folks within our home ed community. When I think of all the things we do (more of that another day - there's lots in the pipeline round here right now), the visits we go on, the wealth of knowledge and experience people have and are willing to share, loans of books, games etc, wow, I know I say it a lot, but I am truly blessed.

Tracks in the snow

The wintry conditions appeared to be improving but we awoke to find ourselves in Narnia again today.

I also awoke to have Hermione announce that she was just feeling a bit nervous yesterday and still does want to learn Chinese after all. So glad I wasn't put to the test. She starts this week.

 

Nana thought there were some large and unusual animal prints in the garden today so I had this bright idea about making plaster paris casts of them. I looked it up on the web and it sounded straight forward.

We made a cardboard collar to contain the plaster, dusted the print with plaster powder and filled with wet plaster.

 

The results were far from satisfactory. They were abysmal. I think it may have been better to place a layer of clingfilm between plaster and print as the snow stopped the plaster from setting properly. There again that may just be me being silly.

 

So, we are no further forward with identifying the tracks. To be honest I think it is just a rabbit - a different one to our rabbit. Nana is convinced it's a fox or the likes.

A watercolour bird.

 

Dilema

Here’s a dilemma. Hermione has been asking for ages to learn how to speak Chinese. After much digging and smooth talking I have managed to find her affordable weekly lessons from a native speaking person. Great I thought – that is till Hermione announced that she no longer wants to learn to speak Chinese. What would you do? I hate the idea of coercing her into doing something she no longer wants to do, but at the same time I’m a facilitator of her desires – not a doormat, thank you very much.

I have told Hermione she must give it a try. That went down like a lead balloon. I feel bad but then I think it would be bad to let her think that it is okay to waste my time and that of all the people who have helped me to sort it. I won’t make her go for ever and a day, but considering all the fuss she’s had I think she should give it a try. Seriously un-cool, coercive parent eh?

Here's Pickle and Scratch - Tom Tom was hiding.

 

All in a day

What a day! Not so much a busy day - rather one that feels very different at the end to what it did at the beginning.

We are now the ecstatic owners of three gerbils. I have always said I would never ever have a caged animal. There's a lesson in there for me - never say 'never'. We went to the pet shop for one dwarf hamster. We opted for a gerbil upon learning that they are more sociable and being desert animals produce less waste (and hopefully that equates to less smell). We wanted one but thought two would be best so as they had company. That meant one was going to be left behind alone in the pet shop. Yep, you get the picture.

This is not one of our gerbils, but does look a lot like it. Ours are still a little camera shy. They do lots of this upright statue business though which we all think is incredibly cute. They're like miniature meer cats.



I'm not liking the smell. It's not that they smell, it's the bedding and food I can smell. I feel like I'm in a petstore. Non chemical air freshener ideas anyone?

As for the other development today, my sister has announced she's coming to stay for a few weeks, all the way from Canada! Yeah! I'm ever so pleased, not just because we love to see her, but also because she's ever so arty and creative and my own recent plans to make over my bedroom just don't seem to be happening. I'm in need of an in put of flair and expression. What better than a make over by my artist and interior designer little sis?

Currently my bedroom is a dark blue gray colour, with pine furniture and nothing on the walls. Boring huh? Well, here's what I'm hoping to create.

I want something inspired by the works of Jurgen Gorg, one of my all time favourite artists. Strong, fluid and passionate.







Something as cool and vibrant as pale lime leaves...



..yet as warm and rich as creamy baked cheesecake.



I'm also thinking texture - not so much full on textured textile art (or at least not on a large scale), but more like fluid canvas with texture, like almost tactile paintings. Paint that looks like it's been put on with a trowel. What is that? Oil on canvas?

The budget for the makeover is whatever small change is lying in the bottom of my bag - probably something in the region of about £1.79 - so frugality is the key. Walls and furniture will have to stay as they are.

I'm excited. I'm so excited that the smell of sawdust isn't irritating me half as much as it otherwise would be.

Our China display

We put up our China display today. We've been talking about China for a few days and discussions will no doubt continue till the finale of New Year on the 14th of February.

Most of the display comes from an Edupress Bulletin Board set which I picked up for a couple of pounds when an online store was closing down. I think they are great. We have one for the continents and Africa too. I would like more but cannot find a UK distributor. You can get them in America - even on amazon.com (as opposed to amazon.co.uk) but I've not quite got my head round the shipping and tax costs.

 

In addition to the standard pieces we've added a few of our own. A lot of this ties in with and arose out of reading Animal Farm.

 

 

 

Not so long ago in First News there was an article about Tibet. Thinking back to that and various discussions we have had in recent days I have contacted Amnesty International to enquire if home educators can access the free education packs they provide schools with. I'll keep you informed.

Organised Mum

Well, it a tall order but I'm sincerely hoping that my new Organised Mum book and wall planner will help to transform me from one of those crusty 'always running late with toast crumbs in her hair' kinda mums to..erm....well, someone who kinda knows where she's at.



This stuff was recommended to me on a home ed list. There is plenty of room for various family members activities and even space for menus and shopping lists. Goodness, to think I may ever be that organised!

Why do I blog?

I have been asking myself this question for a few months. There have been times when I have wondered why I bother, but for reasons I find hard to explain, I'm drawn back to it. After giving it some thought this is what I've come up with.

1. It’s there when I want to talk and it doesn’t answer back.

2. It’s a bit like a message in a bottle – out there on the waves.

3. It helps me to keep a track on some stuff, focus and reflect.

4. It’s cathartic - cheap therapy.

5. It’s a sort of mingling of self with others, reaching out, making connections, invisible threads and stuff.

Assuming you do, then why do you blog?