Friends

Playing a great new board game that we bought a few weeks ago, Settlers of Catan We have played most every day since:We are so lucky. We have three very local (I'm talking out-here-in-the-boondocks-with-us local) families who unschool. The kids are very close. The kind of close that they can have three people together for a slumber party and no one ever gets left out. The kind of close where they respect each others' differences, with no fear of being judged or dropped. I love hearing, "That's your favorite movie (lego set, yu gi oh deck, book, drink)? Really? Not me." Great debates ensue with no one thinking they are going to change anyone's mind, they just love the debate.

I learned a theory from my brother, years ago, who learned it from a consulting whiz, that people learn best when in groups of seven. Interesting. A lot of learning happens with these kids as a result of just hanging out together, sharing their passions, free to experiment, fail and then learn from their mistakes, uninhibited by adult control. It's hard sometimes, not interfering, just waiting for them to ask for help. Especially when directing or art are involved (for me personally). I've learned (I keep relearning this!) that my unsolicited advice just stops their flow, frustrates them, keeps them from that brazen confidence that allows them to take the risks that forge new paths. Risks that I, who mostly learned from books and in classes, am hesitant to take.

I'm grateful for all of our friends, near and far.

And, we're incredibly grateful that our eleven year old dog, Tuki, has a young, new friend:
Four-month old Willie (named for my great-grandmother) showed up on our porch about a month ago. Tuki has a new lease on life. She's learning and teaching a lot lately.

"Follow me Willie, here's how to dig up the chipmunk we buried several days ago":
That is Leonard next to Willie, lying down exhausted from all the wrestling. Leonard used to be one of the boys favorite beings and is now Willie's favorite chew toy.

Willie has been going to work with Nicolas at the farm. Tuki gets a much needed break from the constant Willie love-fest. Time alone is good too. But after a while, we all miss our friends.

Still white

It's been like seeing snow for the first time. I feel like a hobbit, buried cozily under so much white.


This morning, Tuki was so excited to discover that Jesse had also come outside for a walk in the snow.

Keeping the animals clean and fed

With neighbor Larry's help (he loves our dog as much as we do) we gave Tuki a bath this morning. Jesse-dog felt the need for a soaking as well. Everyone who meets Tuki wishes that they could clone her. She is a great dog. She deserved a bath- though she may not have seen it that way.


Later in the day, we noticed a beautiful Writing Spider -Argiope aurantia- in our front yard. Gillen fed it several grasshoppers and later Jesse gave it two beetles. It was cool watching the spider nimbly (and this spider is huge to be so nimble) racing over to the sudden offering to its web in order to inject it with poison.


The following photos were taken with my small Pentax optio S50, which is better for macro photos. It's a good camera if you're looking for one that isn't too expensive. Gillen's about to use it in a digital photography class. Then he can teach me.