Electric light still struck like arrows, fired but for the ones

Science at the museum ..
Perfect for a rainy Spring day..

Studying the solar system..

Can you see Ollie's reflection in the picture above? Studying rotation..

And relative size..

And body parts, health, and the medical profession.

Bones..

Experiencing anti-gravity..

Science, once again, proven to rock..

And in her right hand, a silver dagger

Our studies have led us to Rome. Ollie decided to be a Roman foot soldier-a legionary. Of course, with a stockpile of cardboard, aluminum foil, and a hot-glue gun, what can't I do?

The helmet is complete with the "new" addition of face guards. Also, as exciting as armour: two spears, a dagger, and a sword. All equipment equals 80 pounds with which the Roman soldier had to march 20 miles per day. Next, on to aqueducts...

You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread,

Sourdough - My version
The above critter was found rolled up in my cheesecloth. I could see a dark splotch as I used the cloth and as I unrolled it, I discovered the source.

2 cups of water to 1 cup of flour. Cover with cheesecloth (lady bug free) and let sit for several days. I let mine sit for 3 or 4 days. It starts to stink. Like puke. Don't stir or touch.

Then, it looks like this. Bubbly and gooey and stinky. Mix with bread ingredients of choice. I did very simple: flour, salt, olive oil, water, and about a cup of starter. Mix, knead for at least 10 minutes, let rise for several hours, then bake with a pan of water in the bottom of the oven.

, This is a thick, hearty bread that will last only a day or two.
I've found, the more you knead, the better the consistency.

I am also trying to use up all my yarn that I currently have instead of buying new.
I end up with the dregs..Soon to try re-knitting..

And rest yourself ’neath the strength of strings

We are striving very hard in our home to institute a day of rest. It sounds silly to have to TRY to rest, but it is hard to sort of schedule in a chore-less, errand-less day. We have done this twice, and I have found myself looking forward to it during the week as a light at the end of the tunnel. To know that there will be one day set aside to lounge around in the sun on a blanket and read-all day, to rejuvenate, and talk and hug has helped me breathe deeper during the week. We took our day of rest yesterday as it was sunny and warm; today is to be filled with rain, laundry, and baking..

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a rolling hoop

Eli on a sunny day (outfit of his choosing..)

But rather give myself to science..

When I first began homeschooling, I was a reluctant science teacher. Reading books or doing math problems is SO much easier. BUT, my children's enthusiasm has begun to rub off on me. They love science experiments. I often use them as a reward for completing other tasks. "If you clean your room, we can do a Science experiment!"
These two books are a hit in our home right now. The top one, is cohesive, and each experiment uses prior knowledge to build on new concepts. It uses real scientific terms but requires materials that I tend to already have around the house. It is a winner.

We've only done one so far out of the above book, but it was a bag bomb. Yes, a bomb. The kids were playing something to do with Star Wars (blah, blah, blah), and I whipped up some bombs to include in their play. The experiment involved the ever popular baking soda and vinegar concoction in a zip lock baggie, but we got to discuss things like liquids, gasses, solids and carbon dioxide. Very fun.

Our science experiment involved a cabbage wash to test ph balance.

Acid, base, or neutral..

Changing the liquids color to report ph balance..

Hypothesis, writing, reading, scientific method..
(Sorry, Mom, we used that Diet Coke you were saving here for our science experiment :))

Seen a shooting star tonight

My post yesterday about peace, and today about war.
Du, du, du, du, du, du, du, du, du, du..

Behold, an assortment of capes, in Eli's words, that are a "tiny bit bigger than germs." Cut from felt and using a hole puncher to elicit squeals of glee, change the men into a plethora of different characters, and keep the boys occupied deep in imagination for hours.

Let me walk down the highway with my brother in peace

This week, we participated with Bridge Builders at the Nashville Peace and Justice Center in planting seeds. The sprouts will be sold at a Mother's Day Parade. Proceeds from the sale will be used to buy more seeds to send to Haiti. Can you guess the lessons I was able to incorporate with this activity?

You'll find God in the church of your choice

We had the honor to visit a Greek Orthodox church last week as a field trip, and it was beautiful. I am unaccustomed to this type of architecture, art, and attention to detail in places of worship in this country. Here are a few glimpses of what we were enchanted by..

The ornate baptismal

Murals

Mosaics

Icons reflecting the light from the ceiling

Incense burner

And an exquisite devotion to symbolism and artistic purpose

But best of all, of course, we were able to spend a few precious moment with treasured friends..

“Are birds free from the chains of the skyway?”

Spring is in the air!
Finally!
Ollie bought his brother ice-cream from the ice-cream man from his saved allowance.

We hung our feeders and are anxiously watching.

Wish us birds!