In which I make the sound of a contented sigh...

• the checkbook is balanced


• the bills are paid


• the groceries are purchased and put away


• a load of dishes is drying


• a load of towels is washing


• the tea is steeping in my favourite mug
  


• I am home for the next four days

Freedom Is Not Free

Busy...busy...busy...

and just when I thought things were going to settle down and I could start being a real home-body again life got even busier!

A friend at church, K, is pregnant with baby #2.  Baby #1, L, (who is now a toddler) was born prematurely at 28 weeks .  K. is on complete bed-rest in hopes that little brother/sister will wait until due-date in late September.  Her mother-in-law is able to come over one day during the week to help, and some of the other ladies at church will be helping out occasionally.  For the most part, three or four days a week now, I load up my youngers with their books and other tid-bits at eight o'clock in the morning and go take care of L. and fix lunch for K. and maybe do a bit of (very) light housekeeping until about 6 p.m. when her husband finishes work.  Then we fight traffic (ugh!) home, eat supper, and try to get some of our own housework done. 

I really am glad that I am able to be a help to them at this time, and they are paying me which is a real blessing for us at a time when we truly need some additional income (I have been dreading the idea of having to get a part-time job!)

L. takes nice long naps, so we are able to get a good amount of our reading done then, and that is pretty much our formal academics.  Today's Latin Proverb of the Day was "Optimus magister bonus liber."  In English: The best teacher is a good book.  I guess that will be our motto this summer.

Some of this week's favourite teachers were:

• The Complete Book of Nonsense by Edward Lear


• The Discovery of New Worlds by M. B. Synge


• The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis


• The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-pan by Beatrix Potter


• Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne


• The Wonderclock by Howard Pyle


• Flower Fairies of the Garden by Cicely Mary Barker


• The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald


• Young Edgar Allan Poe by Laura Benet


• Red by Ted Dekker

We had fairly cool mornings this week, so we took L. for walks.  We explored a marshy area in their neighbourhood and were treated to seeing four herons (we think) take flight.  We also saw a pair of red-winged blackbirds and a few different butterflies.  We saw cat-tails, mexican hat, texas thistle, indian blanket, and sunflowers.

So, yes, it has been a busy but enjoyable week.