Here's my randomness for the week:
Cooler temperatures are so much nicer for playing outside and sleeping.
I need to read at least one more scary book before the month ends.
Pumpkin pie this weekend? I’m thinking yes.
My new house shoes are so comfortable. Definitely a great purchase.
Thinking about Thanksgiving plans. Where and who?
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre
Author: Max Brooks
Publisher: Del Rey 2020
Genre: Horror
Pages: 304
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Monthly Theme - October
As the ash and chaos from Mount Rainier’s eruption swirled and finally settled, the story of the Greenloop massacre has passed unnoticed, unexamined . . . until now. The journals of resident Kate Holland, recovered from the town’s bloody wreckage, capture a tale too harrowing—and too earth-shattering in its implications—to be forgotten. In these pages, Max Brooks brings Kate’s extraordinary account to light for the first time, faithfully reproducing her words alongside his own extensive investigations into the massacre and the legendary beasts behind it. Kate’s is a tale of unexpected strength and resilience, of humanity’s defiance in the face of a terrible predator’s gaze, and, inevitably, of savagery and death.
Yet it is also far more than that.
Because if what Kate Holland saw in those days is real, then we must accept the impossible. We must accept that the creature known as Bigfoot walks among us—and that it is a beast of terrible strength and ferocity.
Part survival narrative, part bloody horror tale, part scientific journey into the boundaries between truth and fiction, this is a Bigfoot story as only Max Brooks could chronicle it—and like none you’ve ever read before.
Oh this was such fun! I always love a good horror book and Max Brooks spins a good yarn. I really enjoyed World War Z and the faux documentary style of the book. Thankfully Brooks continues the style with a fun Sasquatch attack in Washington. I was worried that the build-up would take too long, but we dive right into it. I love the little teases of impending doom from various people. It’s so good! And we get into such a suspenseful state after the eruption. I loved Kate’s voice throughout the book. Overall, I had such fun reading this one!
Next up on the TBR pile:
It’s going to be another strange season still in the midst of the pandemic. And we’re homeschooling. Being at home does allow for some other fun activities, I just need to be more intentional about doing the activities. And we need to lower our expectations this year, just a bit… We managed to knock out a few items from our list already!
Visit Vala’s ✓
Read 5 Chapter Book Read-alouds
Half Magic by Edward Eager
Carve Pumpkins
Go Apple Picking ✓
Read 15 Books from My UnRead Shelf (1/15)
Hike at Fontenelle Forest
Go on a Hayride ✓
Take Pictures of Boys in a Pile of Leaves
Bake a Pie
Watch 10 Fall/Spooky Movies
Watch It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
Decorate the Front Porch (in progress)
Make a Leaf Craft
Buy Halloween Pajamas ✓
Read 15 Spooky Kids Books (1/15)
Chicken on a Broom by Adam Lehrhaupt
Next up on the TBR pile:
Not really sure what happened, but I took a total of seven pictures for the entire week. I was so exhausted this week… I just forgot to document. But we did do school!
We focused on Pumpkins and some U.S. History this week.
Literature and Poetry
We started reading Winnie the Pooh this week. A classic! Arthur liked this selection much more than last week’s book. We’ll be carrying this book into next week and moving on to The House at Pooh Corner. Plus, once we finish, we will watch the movie versions and compare.
Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh by Sally M. Walker
Leaf by Leaf: Autumn Poems
Math
Our unit this week was all about time. Mostly a review for Arthur, but always good to review concepts. We also did a math review packet on Thursday and completed a few Khan Academy units this week. Next week is fractions which is relatively new to Arthur. We’ve been reading some books to introduce the topic and next week we will learn the basics.
Charlie Piechart and the Case of the Missing Pizza Slice by Eric Comstock and Marilyn Sadler
Fractions in Disguise by Edward Einhorn
Charlie Piechart and the Case of the Missing Hat by Eric Comstock and Marilyn Sadler
Social Studies
We switched around the schedule again this week (seems like a weekly occurrence at this point) and focused on A River of Voices Lessons #2-3 focusing on Spanish Exploration and Settlement. I also added in a lesson on Monday about the various Native American groups of the Southwest. And we watched another episode of the PBS documentary Native America. So good! For the art component, Arthur colored a traditional Navajo rug and made some pictures inspired by the paintings in A Rainbow at Night. I also added in a lesson about the Taino people of the Caribbean and what happened to them after Columbus arrived. I was taught that they were wiped out, but that’s not true. They had to move to other islands, but some of their numbers survived and have held on to the culture and traditions all these centuries.
First Nations of the North America: Southwest Indians
The Southwest Indians: Daily Life in the 1500s by Mary Englar
The Navajo by Kevin Cunningham and Peter Benoit
A Rainbow at Night by Bruce Hucko
The Precious Gift by Ellen Jackson
Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott
A Kid’s Guide to Latino History
The Conquistadores by R. Conrad Stein
Early Explorations by Roger E. Hernandez
A Quetzalcoatl Tale of Corn by Marilyn Parke and Sharon Panik
Johonaa’ei: Bringer of Dawn by Veronica Tsinajinnie
Encounter by Brittany Luby
Southwest Sunrise by Nikki Grimes
Science
Our topics this week were Animal Migration, Animal Survival, and Animal Camouflage. We went outside one day to spot animals using the various techniques and to say goodbye to some of the birds flying south. We also watched a great NOVA episode, “Journey of the Butterflies,” about the migration of the monarch butterflies. We also read a chapter from The Tarantula in My Purse about geese. We’ll be sprinkling in these chapters over the next few months.
Animal Migration by Jeanie Mebane
On the Move by Scott Cohn
Going Home by Marianne Berkes
Why Do Geese Fly South in Winter? by Kathy Allen
How Do Birds Find Their Way? by Roma Gans
Animal Migrations by Vicky Franchino
The Tarantula in My Purse by Jean Craighead George
Little Home Bird by Jo Empson
Is This Panama? by Jan Thornhill
Art
We did mini artist studies of Henri Rousseau and Andy Warhol this week. Arthur really loved the jungle paintings of Rousseau. He even made his own version. And he colored some fun Andy Warhol-esque pages.
The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau by Michelle Markel
Henri Rousseau Biography by Mike Venezia
Andy Warhol Biography by Mike Venezia
Andy Warhol Pop Art Painter by Susan Goldman Rubin
Uncle Andy’s by James Warhola
Uncle Andy’s Cats by James Warhola
Music
Our composer for this week was Giacomo Puccini. Arthur was not a fan of his compositions or opera in general. I’ll admit that I didn’t appreciate opera until adulthood so no big deal. We’ll be doing Sousa next week. Hopefully that’s more interesting to him.
Nature Play Day
None this week. We instead went over to a friend’s house and had an old-fashioned playdate. The kids really need to just hang out and blow off some steam.
Unit Theme
It was pumpkin week! We read a ton of pumpkin books and do some pumpkin activities. We didn’t get to our pumpkin investigation (cutting on up, etc), but we’ll slot that into our Halloween week along with carving our jack-o-lanterns.
The Pumpkin Painter by Jennifer Matthai Garner
From Seed to Pumpkin by Crystal Sikkens
The Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis
Flat Stanley and the Missing Pumpkins by Lori Haskins Houran
The Pumpkin Man by Judith Moffat
Mystery Vine by Cathryn Falwell
The Very Best Pumpkin by Mark Kimball Moulton
Marley and the Runaway Pumpkin by Susan Hill
Fall Pumpkin Fun
Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills
Autumn Orange by Christianne C. Jones
Pumpkin Day by Candice Pansom
Pumpkin Harvest by Calvin Harris
From Pumpkin to Pie by Lisa Owings
The Story of Jack O’Lantern by Katherine Tegen
The Fierce Yellow Pumpkin by Margaret Wise Brown
Misc. - Random picture books read
The Amazing Planet Earth by Scott Emmons (Arthur read this one to me)
Armadilly Chili by Helen Ketterman
Mela and the Elephant by Dow Phumiruk
Thomas and Friends Easter Engines
The Magic School Bus Rides Again Rock Man Vs. Weather Man
Croc and Ally Friends Forever by Derek Anderson
Lofty and the Giraffe
Muck on Ice
The Ants Go Marching by Priscilla Burris
Chicken on a Broom by Adam Lehrhaupt (Arthur read this one to me)
How the Sphinx Got to the Museum by Jessie Hartland
The Bean Team
Monkey: A Trickster Tale from India by Gerald McDermott
You Can Be Anything by Charles M. Schulz
I loved how much Arthur got into Henri Rousseau’s art. And the Native America documentary is always a win.
I was so tired this week. It was a struggle.
Next Week
We are going to continue our U.S. History lessons with ones focused on Jamestown and the Mayflower and the Pilgrims. For our unit theme, I chose Owls which will pair nicely with the science lessons on nocturnal animals and the moon. We’re planning on doing a moon tracking lesson starting with the New Moon on October 16th. Plus, Arthur’s 7th birthday is on Thursday… We’ll have to plan something special for that day. Maybe a zoo visit?
Next up on the TBR pile:
Caught this one Alt Nation last week and immediately loved it!
As I look outside my window: The sun is out, the wind is blowing, and the leaves are changing colors.
Right now I am: Trying to make a darn to-do/brain dump list. Too many little things rattling around my brain; I need to get them all out!
Thinking and pondering: What is more important right now - going to the dentist or going to the eye doctor? My anxiety can only handle one this month. I’m leaning towards eye doctor as my glasses are pretty scratched up.
On my bedside table: Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner; The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Clune
On my tv this week: We ended up watching very little tv this past week. I was exhausted most nights. But we did watch Enola Holmes and Aladdin (2019). Both were entertaining if nothing else.
Listening to: The usual podcasts. Although today calls for music.
On the menu for this week:
Monday - Swahili Fish with Coconut Rice
Tuesday - Chicken Shawarma Fries
Wednesday - Broccoli Beef
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - BBQ Chicken, Apple, Bacon, Cheddar Quesdaillas
Saturday - Zurek (Polish Rye Soup)
Sunday - Coffee Rubbed Pork Loin
On my to do list: See above for brain dump problem…
Happening this week: It’s grocery week once again. Off to finish my giant grocery list and hopefully not forget anything too important. We also have nature play day on Wednesday, a library visit sometime (Friday?), and maybe a park visit as the temperatures will be cooler.
What I am creating: Finally getting back into card making. I ended up making 6 cards using a borrowed stamp set yesterday. Hoping to start organizing my Christmas card supplies today.
My simple pleasures: Sleep, that’s all this week, just sleep
Looking around the house: Blergh! I think I’m the only one in this house that picks up random crap that accumulates. There’s crap everywhere right now.
From the camera: Quentin peeking out from behind one of our unit theme books.
Title: The Stationery Shop
Author: Marjan Kamali
Publisher: Gallery Books 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 320
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Monthly Theme - October
Roya is a dreamy, idealistic teenager living in 1953 Tehran who, amidst the political upheaval of the time, finds a literary oasis in kindly Mr. Fakhri’s neighborhood book and stationery shop. She always feels safe in his dusty store, overflowing with fountain pens, shiny ink bottles, and thick pads of soft writing paper.
When Mr. Fakhri, with a keen instinct for a budding romance, introduces Roya to his other favorite customer—handsome Bahman, who has a burning passion for justice and a love for Rumi’s poetry—she loses her heart at once. And, as their romance blossoms, the modest little stationery shop remains their favorite place in all of Tehran.
A few short months later, on the eve of their marriage, Roya agrees to meet Bahman at the town square, but suddenly, violence erupts—a result of the coup d’etat that forever changes their country’s future. In the chaos, Bahman never shows. For weeks, Roya tries desperately to contact him, but her efforts are fruitless. With a sorrowful heart, she resigns herself to never seeing him again.
Until, more than sixty years later, an accident of fate leads her back to Bahman and offers her a chance to ask him the questions that have haunted her for more than half a century: Why did he leave? Where did he go? How was he able to forget her?
I really wanted to love this book and I just felt like it was good, but not great. The writing is lovely. The characters are (for the most part) lovely. But it just didn’t connect with me emotionally. I wonder after reading it if I wanted more in the past. Often with these books set in the present and the past, I end up liking one time period much more than the other. And usually that preference is for the story set in the past. I would have liked to have spent more time in 1950s Iran than the present.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Title: Lumberjanes Vol. 12: Jacklope Springs Eternal
Author: Shannon Watters, Noelle Stevenson, Brooklyn Allen
Publisher: BOOM! 2019
Genre: Graphic Novel
Pages: 112
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
When Counselor Jen takes the Roanoke scouts on a mission to find a Jackalope, they end up stumbling on a young cowgirl who’s been living in the woods surrounding camp with her herd of unusual critters!
In the aftermath of the time shenanigans set off by Jo’s Mysterious Time Thingy, the Roanoke scouts are a little bit uneasy on their feet. It’s up to Jen to cheer them up and help them get back up and off adventuring again, with a quest to seek out the most mysterious mythological monster of all…the mighty JACKALOPE!
Fun! Fun! We get to meet another inhabitant of the mysterious woods outside camp. And we are on the hunt for the infamous Jackalope! This entire series really just makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Title: Lumberjanes Vol. 13: Indoor Recess
Author: Kat Leyh, Shannon Watters, Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Brooklyn Allen, Dozerdraws, Maarta Laiho
Publisher: BOOM! 2019
Genre: Graphic Novel
Pages: 112
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
On a rainy day at Lumberjanes camp, the Roanokes explore tabletop gaming (with bonus magic!), and the underground tunnels beneath the Mess Hall.
The woods surrounding Miss Qinzella Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types are home to more incredible magical critters and beings than anyone could possibly imagine…unfortunately, on this particular day, it’s pouring rain, and each and every ‘Jane has been tasked with just one job: stay inside, stay dry, and DON’T get into trouble. Confined to the Mess Hall, Jo and Molly give tabletop roleplaying a try, while Ripley, April, and Mal venture a little further afield after discovering a secret tunnel beneath the Kitchens...and the colossal prehistoric bug that lives there! Hey, they’re not technically outside, right?
Oooohhh I loved the split adventures of the campers. My favorite was definitely the aboveground adventures in the cabin. I loved the random twists and turns with the new board game. So much fun!
I doubt this will beat Angelica Houston’s amazing Head Witch, but I will watch it.
This might be monster fun.
Need to read the book first, but yes!
Oh Yes! Groundhog Day, but a horror film!
Freaky Friday, but as a horror film! Must see!
Title: A Rogue of One’s Own(A League of Extraordinary Women #2)
Author: Evie Dunmore
Publisher: Berkley 2020
Genre: Romance
Pages: 444
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges: TBR Jar Random
Lady Lucie is fuming. She and her band of Oxford suffragists have finally scraped together enough capital to control one of London’s major publishing houses, with one purpose: to use it in a coup against Parliament. But who could have predicted that the one person standing between her and success is her old nemesis and London’s undisputed lord of sin, Lord Ballentine? Or that he would be willing to hand over the reins for an outrageous price—a night in her bed.
Lucie tempts Tristan like no other woman, burning him up with her fierceness and determination every time they clash. But as their battle of wills and words fans the flames of long-smoldering devotion, the silver-tongued seducer runs the risk of becoming caught in his own snare.
As Lucie tries to out-maneuver Tristan in the boardroom and the bedchamber, she soon discovers there’s truth in what the poets say: all is fair in love and war…
Another great historical romance! I really enjoyed the first one in the series and this one was a delightful continuation of some of the characters. We get to know Lucie and Tristan throughout the course of the novel and I completely fell in love with both of them. I love how each of them have hidden their actual personalities and dreams. Thankfully we do get a check-in with the ladies from the first novel also. At times the novel became very serious, but I loved it. There was even a point where I felt myself tearing up. It really got to me and I just had to see Tristan and Lucie find their happen ending.
A League of Extraordinary Women
#2 A Rogue of One’s Own
Next up on the TBR pile:
Reading: Lumberjanes Vol. 12-13. I needed some fun comfort reads for this week. I love this series so much!
Watching: The Great British Bake-Off is back!!! And I finally got to watch the first episode. I’ll miss Sandy, but Matt is a nice addition.
Listening: All the politics podcasts, I needed a break. Thankfully I had a few back episodes of Currently Reading (and What Should I Read Next) to listen to this week. I love their discussions about books and only books.
Making: We’re going to attempt fry bread this week to go along with our lessons about Native Americans of the Southwest.
Feeling: I’m so out of sorts this week and I just don’t even know why. Things are all just topsy-turvy. I think I need to get outside more and enjoy the fall season. I really do love this time of the year usually.
Planning: No trick-or-treating for us this year. I’m continuing to plan some fun Halloween party items instead.
Loving: I am enjoying the beautiful leaves in our neighborhood. I was very excited to move into a neighborhood with mature trees. They are so pretty!
Next up on the TBR pile:
Caught this song on Alt Nation and immediately loved it!
As I look outside my window: Leaves are falling from the trees! I love fall so much!
Right now I am: Pumping myself up to clean the kitchen. I am not excited, but it needs to be done.
On my bedside table: Lovely War by Julie Berry; Lumberjanes Vol. 12-13
On my tv this week: I can’t even remember what we watched this week. Man, I am tired today.
Listening to: Lots of depressing podcasts. I need to switch to something more uplifting.
On the menu for this week:
Monday - Apple Grilled Cheese
Tuesday - Beef Stew
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - Swahili Fish with Coconut Rice
Friday - Chicken Tortilla Soup
Saturday - Broccoli Beef
Sunday - Chicken Shawarma
On my to do list: I think I need to do a brain dump today. I have no idea what I need to do right now.
Happening this week: Nothing big. We’ll probably go to the library and maybe a park visit.
What I am creating: Argh! I really need to get started on my Christmas cards.
My simple pleasures: Coffee cake and coffee, pumpkin patches, snuggly sweaters
Looking around the house: I cleaned the bathrooms yesterday! Woot! They look so clean now!
From the camera: Apple picking and flower fields at Vala’s this week.
Title: The Only Good Indians
Author: Stephen Graham Jones
Publisher: Gallery 2020
Genre: Horror
Pages: 320
Rating: 3/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Monthly Theme
Seamlessly blending classic horror and a dramatic narrative with sharp social commentary, The Only Good Indians follows four American Indian men after a disturbing event from their youth puts them in a desperate struggle for their lives. Tracked by an entity bent on revenge, these childhood friends are helpless as the culture and traditions they left behind catch up to them in a violent, vengeful way.
I really really enjoyed the plot of this horror novel. I loved the underlying folklore and myth and the very really horror experienced by the characters. But everything else about the book really annoyed me. I couldn’t get over the very strange writing style. Sort of a cross between a Noir Detective Novel and Stream of Consciousness? The end result is that I had trouble following what was happening on any given page. And we’re thrown straight into the story without getting to know the main characters before the terror starts. I wasn’t sure how to feel about the characters. Should we be rooting for them to overcome or get what’s coming? I was just confused through most of the book.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Let’s check in on September’s goals and my progress. Things did not go as planned as we unexpectedly had to travel to Indiana for over a week in the middle of the month.
Get a Notary for the Trash Cans - Fail
Preplan the next four weeks of homeschooling ✓
Check out the new note taking app - Fail
Read 15 books - Fail. So close with 14 reads!
Organize my end of year reading plan - Fail
Plan Saturday art projects - Fail
October’s Goals:
Walk at least 20 miles on the treadmill/outdoors
Read 15 books
Cross off at least 5 items on my Fall Bucket List
Plan out October and 1/2 of November for Homeschool - This includes my library book rotation, theme activities, nature play, and literature.
Line up November’s TBR pile
Start planning Christmas gifts
Thanksgiving plans?
Plan a Halloween party for the kids (and maybe one friend)
Next up on the TBR list:
Here's my randomness for the week:
Thankful for getting back into our schedule.
All 6 of my family members now have library cards!
Flu shots are done for the year and I’m so happy that’s over.
I really need to get back into a workout routine for October.
Next up on the TBR pile:
