I really enjoy the sound of Manchester Orchestra and this new song is great!
Life Right Now #13
As I look outside my window: Another sunny but slightly chilly weekend. Although the temperature is supposed to reach 75 degrees today!
Right now I am: Laying out clothes for the week. Tomorrow it’s supposed to be 88 degrees, Tuesday 74, and then going back and forth all week. So I guess shorts for the kids tomorrow and short sleeves all week?
Thinking and pondering: How to structure our homsechooling next year in relation to the coop that’s forming? We don’t have the details worked out yet for the coop, but I need to start planning our schooling before we take our break in July.
On my bedside table: Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust; The Toll by Neal Stephenson (finally finished the Scythe trilogy!); Still Life by Louise Penny (another three chapters for our read along)
On my tv this week: We finally finished S2 of Star Trek: Voyager. The series itself is a bit uneven, but I do like Janeway a lot. Hopefully we finish all of Star Trek before I die.
Listening to: Mostly podcasts, although I once again had Architects’s new album on repeat a few days.
On the menu for this week: I still have to be careful with my temporary bridge (permanent going in on May 6th), so my meal plain is a bit disjointed.
Monday -
Tuesday -
Wednesday -
Thursday -
Friday -
Saturday
Sunday -
On my to do list: We really need to get the laundry room finished this week so we can install the new washer dryer set. The plumber last week had to replace the entire water line box as the old was severely corroded. We figured, but it meant that he had to cut out the drywall that we now have to replace. J picked up the tools and plans on doing that bit today. Then we can sand, prime, and paint a nice shade of white (same as my craft room actually) and install next weekend. I’m so ready to have a functioning laundry room again.
Happening this week: A few things on our list for this week, but thankfully none are dentist appointments. I just realized that I didn’t plan for our grocery trip in here. Crap.
Monday - Trip to the garden center for plants (I put this off last week because of the freezes; finally getting some plants); Book Club
Tuesday - Gifford Farm visit (they now have piglets!); Book Club
Wednesday - Park Playdate with coop families
Thursday - Normal day
Friday - Normal day
Saturday - Laundry room cleanup
Sunday - Laundry room install
What I am creating: Just plans. No crafting although I just got my new Stampin’ Up catalog and I’m itching to make something paper craft related.
My simple pleasures: Being able to chew at least on one side again.
Looking around the house: Really wishing to get rid of the random bins in my hallway, but we need to fix the laundry room first.
From the camera: Second vaccine down! I felt fine yesterday (I got it on Friday), but J suffered a bit of a reaction.
Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn
Title: Just Like Heaven (Smythe-Smith #1)
Author: Julia Quinn
Publisher: Avon 2011
Genre: Romance
Pages: 374
Rating: 3/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf Project
Honoria Smythe-Smith is:
A) a really bad violinist
B) still miffed at being nicknamed "Bug" as a child
C) not in love with her older brother's best friend
D) all of the above
Marcus Holroyd is:
A) the Earl of Chatteris
B) regrettably prone to sprained ankles
C) not in love with his best friend's younger sister
D) all of the above
Together they:
A) eat quite a bit of chocolate cake
B) survive a deadly fever and the world's worst musical performance
C) fall quite desperately in love
It's Julia Quinn at her best, so you know the answer is...
D) all of the above
I was a bit disappointed by this one. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but found the main characters lacking in, well, character. I just didn’t find Honoria or Marcus very compelling as romantic leads. I was interested in learning more about the Smyth-Smith family, but I didn’t love this one. I wanted more from our romantic leads. And I definitely wanted more steamy scenes. One mostly closed door scene was not enough at all. I fear that this will continue, but I do have the second and fourth book in the series, so I’ll probably keep reading them.
Smythe-Smith Quartet:
#1 Just Like Heaven
#2 A Night Like This
#3 The Sum of All Kisses
#4 The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy
Next up on the TBR pile:
Lady Mechanika Vol. 6
Title: Lady Mechanika Vol. 6: Sangre
Author: Joe Benitez, M.M. Chen, Martin Montiel, Brian Ching
Publisher: Benitez Productions 2020
Genre: Graphic Novel
Pages: 144
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Seasonal TBR
Lady Mechanika accepts a job in Spain protecting a Barón's son who was allegedly attacked by a demonic entity, but she quickly begins to suspect the young man's condition was actually caused by illicit experiments forced upon him by his narrow-minded father. As she investigates further, Lady Mechanika gradually uncovers the sinister truth, leaving her entangled in a dangerous situation which seems to have unexpected ties to her own past. A dark tale that exposes the devastating power of love...and hate. Collects the entire five-issue Sangre mini-series, featuring a main story by guest artist Brian Ching (Supergirl, Star Wars) and a prologue story by Joe Benitez and Martin Montiel.
Oh… this was turned much darker than I thought it would. I really did enjoy seeing Lady Mechanika grapple with a problem that she may not succeed at defeating. Plus we get a call back to a previous character incarnation from another volume. I’m still really loving this series and cannot wait to see what happens next.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Odds and Ends
Here's my randomness for the week:
Feels so weird to have a lump of concrete in my mouth where my missing tooth is. Two weeks until I get a permanent tooth.
Hopefully this week was our last frost and we plant some veggies this coming week.
I’m on a historical romance reading spree this week.
Dreaming of being able to eat substantial food again…
Next up on the TBR pile:
Lady Mechanika Vol. 5
Title: Lady Mechanika Vol. 5: La Belle Dame Sans Merci
Author: Joe Benitez, M.M. Chen, Martin Montiel, Beth Sotelo
Publisher: Benitez Productions 2019
Genre: Graphic Novel
Pages: 104
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Seasonal TBR
Lady Mechanika's investigation into her forgotten past is overshadowed by concern for her associate Mr. Lewis when he becomes enamored of a beautiful and enigmatic young widow, whose own past seems disturbingly linked to the untimely deaths of several creative geniuses. Will Mr. Lewis be next?
Another great volume of comics. I totally predicted where this storyline was going, but it was definitely fun to tag along on the ride.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Tales for the Hinterland by Melissa Albert
Title: Tales from the Hinterland (Hazel Wood #3)
Author: Melissa Albert
Publisher: Flatiron Books 2021
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 240
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Currently Reading - Makes Me Feel Cozy
Before The Hazel Wood, there was Althea Proserpine’s Tales from the Hinterland...
Journey into the Hinterland, a brutal and beautiful world where a young woman spends a night with Death, brides are wed to a mysterious house in the trees, and an enchantress is killed twice―and still lives.
Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans alike, Melissa Albert's Tales from the Hinterland features full-page illustrations by Jim Tierney, foil stamping, two-color interior printing, and printed endpapers.
Finally we get the amazing stories that created the basis for The Hazel Wood. All those dark tales from the Hinterlands are collected into one beautiful volume. It might sound strange to put this volume under my “Makes Me Feel Cozy” challenge, but dark fairy tales are my cozy reads. I love curling up for a cup of tea and a cozy blanket and falling into these strange tales. I must buy my own copy of this soon! I loved every single story, but I do have my favorites. I love the whimsy (until it’s not) of “The Clockwork Bride” and the utter devastation of “Alice-Three-Times.” “The House Under the Stairwell” actually scared me a bit. The imagery is so incredibly vivid that I felt like I was traveling the stairwell to the underworld. Albert does a delightful job in immersing the reader into these tales. I loved it!
The Hazel Wood
#3 Tales from the Hinterland
Next up on the TBR pile:
Homeschool W30: Rainbows, Poetry, and Pippi!
What We Studied
Literature and Poetry
We started reading Pippi Longstocking. I don’t remember ever reading this as a child (just watching the movie from the late 80s), so this is a treat. There are a few word choices here and there that are problematic, but mostly we’re really enjoying the story of Pippi.
We also started our rainbow reading challenge! Each day we read books whose titles including the color of the day. By Saturday, we had worked through the colors of the rainbow. Each day, the boys picked their favorite story to write onto our rainbow.
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lundgren
Raining Cats and Dogs by Will Moses (idioms)
Ruby, Violet, Lime: Looking for Color by Jane Brocket
Goodnight, Rainbow Cats by Barbara Castro Urio
Red House Tree House Little Bitty Brown Mouse by Jane Godwin
A Fire Truck Named Red by Randall de Sève
Red by Jan De Kinder
Little Red Writing by Joan Holub
Red by Jed Alexander
Orange Peel’s Pocket by Rose Lewis
Who Eat’s Orange? by Dianne White
Black Bird, Yellow Sun by Steve Light
Yellow Kayak by Nina Laden (Tobe favorite)
Linus the Little Yellow Pencil by Scott Magoon
Hare and the Big Green Lawn by Katharine Crawford Robey
A Green, Green Garden by Mercer Mayer (Arthur read)
Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Green Pants by Kenneth Kraegel
Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni
Blue by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibithaj Muhammad
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
Violet the Snowgirl by Lisa L. Walsh
Shrinking Violet by Cari Best
Math
We finished Unit 8 and started on Unit 9 in our Singapore Math 2B. More review, but it’s good practice to strengthen Arthur’s math skills before we move on to more difficult material.
Social Studies
We had a combo week of geography and history. For geography, we studied our last continent: Australia. Arthur really got into that continent. We kept referring back to a three part NOVA series on Australia that he watched months back independently. Some days I’m amazed at how much he retains. For U.S. History we continued with the American revolution focusing on the Declaration of Independence and Soldiers and Leaders (mostly George Washington with a side of Henry Know and others).
D is for Down Under by Devin Scillian
Australia and Oceania by Mel Friedman
Introducing Australia by Anita Ganeri
Bilby: Secrets of an Australian Marsupial by Edel Wignell
Over in Australia: Amazing Animals Down Under by Marianne Berkes
Wombat Walkabout by Carol Diggory Sheilds
Ready to Dream by Donna Jo Napoli and Elena Furrow
Under the Souther Cross by Frane Lessac
Sun Mother Wakes the World adapted by Diane Wolkstein
Birrarung Wilam by Aunty Joy Murphy and Andrew Kelly
Wombat Stew by Marcia K. Vaughan
The Declaration of Independence by Elaine Landau
The Declaraction of Indepdendence in Translation by Annie Jane Leavitt
Fight for Freedom by Benson Bobrick
DK American Revolution
George Washington by Mike Venezia
Henry Knox: Bookseller, Soldier, Patriot by Anita Silvey
Henry and the Cannons by Don Brown
Science
For science, we continue learning about rainbows, spring, and gardening.
Who’s Awake in Springtome? by Phillis Gershator and Mim Green
Growing Season by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Curious George Discovers the Rainbow
Take a Walk on a Rainbow by Miriam Moss
The Rainbow by Felicia Law
Raindrop Plop by Wendy Cheyenne Lewison
A Peaceful Garden by Lucy London
Spring for Sophie by Yael Werber
A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston
Spring Blossoms by Carole Gerber
The Seasons of the Year by Emma Carlson Berne
Plant a Little Seed by Bonnie Christensen
Spring Thaw by Steven Schnur
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
A Bunny for All Seasons by Janet Schulman
Grow Kind by Jon Lasser and Sage Foster-Lasser
Grow Happy by Jon Lasser and Sage Foster-Lasser
Quiet in the Garden by Aliki
Digger and Daisy Plant a Garden by Judy Young (Arthur read)
Springtime Blossoms by Jerdine Nolen
Art
Nothing formal
Music
We started listening to Alexandre Desplat’s movie scores, but actually only got to one this week. We’ll carry over to next week.
Unit Theme
We focused on poetry this week to celebrate Poetry Week! We read a variety of poems, including different styles, and tried our hand at writing some poetry. This theme will probably continue into next week.
Pieces: A Year in Poems and Quilts by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Handsprings by Douglas Florian
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Earth Verses and Water Rhymes by J. Patrick Lewis
Misc. - Random picture books read
If You Ever Want to Bring a Circus to the Library, Don’t by Elise Parsley
No Pirates Allowed! Said Library Lou by Rhonda Gowler Greene
Ming’s Adventure in the Forbidden City by Li Jian
The Library Book by Tom Chapin and Michael Mark
Ready, Jet, Go: Mission to the Moon!
Luna Loves Library Day by Joseph Coelho
I want a Monster by Elisa Gravel
Homer the Library Cat by Reeve Lindbergh
Do NOT Bring Your Dragon to the Library by Julie Gassman
Wild Kratts: Wild Insects and Spiders
If I Had a Raptor by George O’Connor
Highs
We had a lovely park playdate with multiple families that are interested in forming a STEAM coop for the fall. I’m so excited to be able to see other people again!
Lows
Weird attitudes from the kids. We’ve hit a doldrums. It was sunny most of the week and the kids just wanted to play outside (but not for any length of time). Everyone was in a bit of a funk.
Next Week
I have a ton of weird appointments that are going to negatively affect our school plans. So we are going to do a week of 1/2 days next week. Two of the days, Arthur will have independent packet. the other three days i hope to actually teach a bit. We are going to focus on doing math and reading every day and add in Earth Day and climate change. Plus we will probably listen to more Alexandre Desplat movie scores. That’s it. No history or formal art. I’m going to try to make it easy on me, but keep the kids engaged.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Music Monday - Grouplove "Deadline"
I have a love/hate relationship with Grouplove. I really enjoy some of their music. And some I find incredibly annoying and whiny. This new song I am actually enjoying…
Life Right Now #12
As I look outside my window: It’s bright and sunny. A little on the cooler side, but decent today.
Right now I am: Prepping to make brunch and then make a run to the library.
Thinking and pondering: How to structure our Ocean unit? We’ll be focusing on the ocean for the last week of April and all of May. I’m still working out how to break down the topics.
On my bedside table: Lady Mechanika Vol. 5 and 6; Girl Serpent Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
On my tv this week: We flew through Staged. Oh how I love David Tennant and Michael Sheen. They are absolutely hilarious. We also watched a few more episodes of Star Trek: Voyager. Eventually I will make it through all of Star Trek.
Listening to: Beyond podcasts, I’ve been listening the new album, For Those That Wish to Exist, from Architects. It’s so incredibly good!
On the menu for this week: I’ve had to redo a lot of the meal plan to accommodate my anticipated pain.
Monday - Brown Sugar Chicken
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Spaghetti
Thursday - Cawl Cennin (Welsh Leek Soup)
Friday - Spicy Black bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Saturday - Smothered Pork Chops
Sunday - Spicy Shrimp Burrito Bowls or Green Chile Enchiladas
On my to do list: Just focusing on making it through the week…
Happening this week: This coming week is going to be my own personal hell week…
Monday - Dentist appointment (permanent crown to be put in)
Tuesday - 3 Hour!!!! Dentist appointment (temporary bridge to be put it); Also the plumber will be here to fix our laundry room water lines
Wednesday - Home/recovery day
Thursday - Park Playdate
Friday - 2nd dose of the vaccine!!!!
Saturday - Expected lazy day due to anticipated side effects of the vaccine
Sunday - Normal day?
What I am creating: Nothing much.
My simple pleasures: Being able to chew on both sides of my mouth (this will be lovely), new friends
Looking around the house: I’m feeling less twitchy than I was on Friday. I cleaned out the main walkways and I plan on getting the boys to help clean their playroom today. There are random bins everywhere still as we had to clean out the laundry room in anticipating of some basic renovations. At least the mess is contained to a corner.
From the camera: I made this scrumptious raspberry coffee cake last Sunday. I might make an orange cake later today.
The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn
Title: The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After (2nd Epilogues and Violet’s Story)
Author: Julia Quinn
Publisher: Avon 2013
Genre: Romance
Pages: 374
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Romance
Ever wonder what happens after the Happily Ever After?
Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series remains one of the most beloved among historical romance readers, and this collection of “second epilogues”—stories that take place after the original books end—offers fans more from their favorite characters.
Also unique to this volume is a novella featuring Violet Bridgerton, beloved mother of the eight Bridgerton siblings, in addition to second epilogues for The Duke and I; The Viscount Who Loved Me; An Offer from a Gentleman; Romancing Mister Bridgerton; To Sir Phillip, With Love; When He Was Wicked, It’s in His Kiss; and On the Way to the Wedding sure to satisfy the legions of Julia Quinn fans.
I enjoyed being able to read all the second epilogues for the series. I had been able to read a few (namely books 1-3), but my editions of the rest did not include these stories. I loved Francesca and Michael’s epilogues and Gregory and Lucy’s made me tear up a bit. Overall they were pretty good stories to have. My one big complaint is that the second epilogue to An Offer from a Gentlemen didn’t feature enough Benedict! A travesty!
Bridgerton
Happily Ever After (2nd Epilogues and Violet’s Story)
Next up on the TBR pile:
On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn
Title: On the Way to the Wedding (Bridgerton #8)
Author: Julia Quinn
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Romance
Pages: 381
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Romance
A funny thing happened ...
Unlike most men of his acquaintance, Gregory Bridgerton believes in true love. And he is convinced that when he finds the woman of his dreams, he will know in an instant that she is the one. And that is exactly what happened. Except ...
She wasn’t the one. In fact, the ravishing Miss Hermione Watson is in love with another. But her best friend, the ever-practical Lady Lucinda Abernathy, wants to save Hermione from a disastrous alliance, so she offers to help Gregory win her over. But in the process, Lucy falls in love. With Gregory! Except ...
Lucy is engaged. And her uncle is not inclined to let her back out of the betrothal, even once Gregory comes to his senses and realizes that it is Lucy, with her sharp wit and sunny smile, who makes his heart sing. And now, on the way to the wedding, Gregory must risk everything to ensure that when it comes time to kiss the bride, he is the only man standing at the altar ...
And we finally get Gregory’s story! I must say that I liked this one much more than Eloise’s and Colin’s stories, but definitely as much as Benedict’s and Francesca’s stories. We just don’t get enough of Gregory’s own personality to make this a 5 star book. I did completely adore Lucy and loved following her story. As an added bonus, we get a very fast-paced tense situation at the conclusion of this novel. A bit of a departure from the rest of the Bridgerton books. I really enjoyed the action sequences. I did want more steamy scenes (seriously such a lack in this one), but overall I thoroughly enjoyed the ending to the series.
For the record, my favorite overall book from the series is When He was Wicked featuring Francesca and Michael. But my favorite character pairing is Benedict and Sophie featured in An Offer from a Gentleman. Seriously, I would have totally picked Benedict out of all the male leads in the series.
Bridgerton
#8 On the Way to the Wedding
Happily Ever After (2nd Epilogues and Violet’s Story)
Next up on the TBR pile:
Videos for a Gray Afternoon
I love fun horror films!
This might have potential to be really interesting.
All the Tides of Fate by Adalyn Grace
Title: All the Tides of Fate (All the Stars and Teeth #1)
Author: Adalyn Grace
Publisher: Imprint 2021
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 358
Rating: 2/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
Through blood and sacrifice, Amora Montara has conquered a rebellion and taken her rightful place as queen of Visidia. Now, with the islands in turmoil and the people questioning her authority, Amora cannot allow anyone to see her weaknesses.
No one can know about the curse in her bloodline. No one can know that she’s lost her magic. No one can know the truth about the boy who holds the missing half of her soul.
To save herself and Visidia, Amora embarks on a desperate quest for a mythical artifact that could fix everything―but it comes at a terrible cost. As she tries to balance her loyalty to her people, her crew, and the desires of her heart, Amora will soon discover that the power to rule might destroy her.
I enjoyed the first one this this duology. I loved a lot of the side characters and was intrigued by the world building. But then I read this one and everything felt so different and backwards. Amora completely regressed in her growth becoming a severely whiny teenagers instead of the woman facing responsibility we saw at the end of the first book. And the plot is just boring. I was so bored by the bachelor tour masquerading as a way for Amora to finally get her country back on track. It was silly and added nothing except for a chance for Amora to be very irresponsible and immature. My favorite parts of the first book, the side characters, were all but nonexistent in this one. So incredibly sad that this just didn’t work at all.
All the Stars and Teeth
#2 All the Tides of Fate
Next up on the TBR pile:
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Title: The Lost Apothecary
Author: Sarah Penner
Publisher: Park Row 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 298
Rating: 2/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf Project; Seasonal TBR
Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary’s fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries.
Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.
Spoilers in my review (I can’t not rant about the spoilers)
My immediate review after finishing this book was boring. But then I started to think about it more and I moved to “I disliked that book immensely.” It employs a lot of the strategies and techniques that I hate about historical fiction and women’s fiction and does them very poorly. More specifically, here are my problems with the book:
I thought it was magical realism or a murder mystery or at least suspense, but nope just straight historical fiction.
Dual timelime - I almost never enjoy these as one of the stories is much more interesting than the other. In this case, they are both boring.
Modern woman is supposed to be the reader’s anchor, but I instantly disliked her. I didn’t find her relatable at all, but instead a sad sack woman who falls back into bad communication.
Gaslighting men - Seriously, I know how terrible men can be. Kind of sick of reading books where they are so villainous. So many in a row!
No distinction between “voices” - We are given three first person narrators who all sound the same. If you picked a randomly passage, I would be hard pressed to guess which of the three women it was without some historical marker clue.
All women are obsessed with having/not having children - Big theme I’m noticing in books lately and I’m so over it. Even Eliza at 12 is obsessed with the state of womb, she just doesn’t quite know it yet.
So many not plausible twists and coincidences. Seriously James ingested the poison to attempt get Caroline back? And her notebook with notes about poisons falls out of her bag and opens to that page so that the police immediately see it when they come in. No fucking way. Too much.
Why does every modern woman in these kind of books have to be running away from something? In this case a cheating husband (who conveniently follows her and shows just how terrible he can be). Why can’t a woman just stumble upon a mystery and have a group of friends or dare I say a good partner that they share it with.
Caroline’s stupidity throughout annoyed me so much. Why are we keeping things from Gaynor? Other than you breaking and entering the apothecary shop, nothing is scandalous or illegal. So why the secrecy?
Warming tincture saved Eliza’s life in the river? WTF?
(The characters were so forgettable that I almost wrote the main modern character’s name as Claire multiple times.)
So incredibly disappointed in this read. I guess it will be a good one to rip to shreds during book club.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Homeschool W29: We Love the Library!
What We Studied
Literature and Poetry
We finished reading The One and Only Ivan. I’ll admit that I teared up at the end. I really enjoyed that story. Arthur seemed to also. We might read the sequel, The One and Only Bob, during our July break.
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Max Goes to the Library by Adria F. Klein (Arthur read)
Max Goes to the Nature Center by Adria F. Klein (Arthur read)
Springtime Surprises by Anna Jane Hays (Arthur read)
Miffy at the LIbrary (Arthur read)
Pete the Kitty and the Unicorn’s Missing Colors by Kimberly & James Dean (Arthur read)
Let’s Go to the library (Arthur read)
Olivia Goes to the Library (Arthur read)
Math
We worked through Unit 7 (multiple and divide 4, 5, and 10) and most of 8 (money) for math this week. We also added in some extra math packets to review some skills and read some math books.
Corkscrew Counts by Donna Jo Napoli
Marvelous Math Poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins
How High Can a Dinosaur Count! And Other Math Mysteries by Valorie Fisher
Social Studies
We covered the Byzantine Empire this week! We learned about how the Roman Empire was split, all about Justinian’s reign, and watched a NOVA episode about the mysteries of the Hagia Sophia. We also watched a NOVA episode about the prehistoric horse riders. Fascinating random documentary pick from Arthur.
Science
We continued with gardening, plants, and rainbows this week. Really diving into a gentle pace for sciences, but having lots of fun exploring. Nature science is clearly a preference for the boys.
Spring: A Haiku Story selected by George Shannon
A New Beginning: Celebrating the Spring Equinox by Linda Bleck
Spectacular Spring by Bruce Goldstone
From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons
Can You Touch a Rainbow by Sue Nicholson
Nature’s Paintbox: A Seasonal Gallery of Art and Verse by Patricia Thomas
Gardening by Nessa Black
Gardening by the Numbers by Cecilia Linden
The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons
How Does My Garden Grow? by Gerda Muller
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
Ready, Set, Grow
Try This! Gardening by Stephanie Turnbull
Color Me a Rhyme by Jane Yolen
It’s Raining by Gail Gibbons
Rainbows: Nature’s Light Show by Kristen Rajczak
A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman
Ava and the Rainbow (Who Stayed) by Ged Adamson
Art
Nothing formal
Music
Nothing formal
Unit Theme
We celebrated Library Week this week. We learned all about how to use the library including the Dewey Decimal system. Arthur learned how to navigate the online library catalog and even picked specific books to find. We did our library visit on Thursday and found our books! One Friday we focused on the variety of libraries around the world. Arthur loved learning about the alternatives to library buildings.
Jumping Off the Library Shelves: A Book of Poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins
ABC Letters in the Library by Bonnie Farmer
Karl and Caroline Uncover the Parts of a Book by Sandy Donovan
A Library Field Trip by Isabel Martin
Out and About at the Public Library by Kitty Shea
Manners in the Library by Carrie Finn
Library Day by Anne Rockwell
Peppa Pig and the Library Visit
Bored Bella Learns About Fiction and Nonfiction by Sandy Donovan
Pingpong Perry Experiences How a Book is Made by Sandy Donovan
Bob the Alien Discovers the Dewey Decimal System by Sandy Donovan
Our Library by Eve Bunting
The Library Doors by Toni Buzzeo
Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children by Jan Pinborough
Library on Wheels: Mary Lemist Titcomb and America’s First Bookmobile by Sharlee Glenn
Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia by Jeanette Winter
My Librarian is a Camel: How Books are Brought to Children Around the World by Margriet Ruurs
The Library Bus by Bahram Rahman
Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen
Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk
The Lady of the Library by Angie Karcher
When the Library Lights Go Out by Megan McDonald
Misc. - Random picture books read
Max and Marla are Having a Picnic by Alexandra Boiger
Flower Garden by Eve Bunting
The Gardener by Sarah Stewart
Nesting by Henry Cole
Outside, Inside by LeUyen Pham
Jack’s Garden by Henry Cole
When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes
Hi Jack by Mac Barnett
Every Color of Light by Hiroshi Osada
Thank You, Garden by Liza Garton Scanlon
Sunshine Brightens Springtime by Charles Ghigna
My Garden by Kevin Henkes
Highs
We had a rainy, but fun park playdate on Tuesday with a new friend. According to Quentin, R is his new best friend.
I bought and put together a new shelf to house our homeschooling supplies. So excited to get all the stuff off my floor!
Lows
My energy level was low all week. Hoping I have more next week!
Next Week
We’ll be covering a usual amount of topics and subjects including:
Starting Pippi Longstocking for our read aloud
Poetry featuring a Shel Silverstein deep dive (It’s poetry week!)
Australia for geography
The Declaration of Independence and Soldiers and Leaders for U.S History
Continuing gardening, rainbows, and spring for science
Money and Fractions for math
Listening to Alexandre Desplat’s movie scores for music
Next up on the TBR pile:
Music Monday - Machine Gun Kelly feat. Halsey "Forget Me Too"
Winter was all about Emo song selections. Now that we’ve moved into spring, I’m turning back into hard rock and metal. Enjoy!
I think I actually liked Machine Gun Kelly… I’m as surprised as you are.
Life Right Now #11
As I look outside my window: Another bright and sunny morning, although it’s only about 45 degrees right now.
Right now I am: Doing a bit of curriculum planning before I make brunch and work on the meal plan / grocery list for the next two weeks.
Thinking and pondering: How to structure our summer? Our homeschool year goes through the end of June, and I had intended to take July off (if nothing else but for my own mental health). But Arthur does not do well without some kind of routine and/or structure. I need to think about how to plan out July and a week or two of August that doesn’t cause me stress but gives structure. Maybe independent LEGO projects or daily NOVA docs? We’ll continue doing a read aloud, but that’s the only definite thing so far.
On my bedside table: On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn; Lady Mechanika Vol. 5 and 6
On my tv this week: For movie night, Arthur convinced us to watch the new Godzilla vs. King Kong. It was surprisingly good. Just don’t think about the characters too much.
Listening to: Mostly podcasts, although I did get to listen to my beloved Emo Project yesterday while putting together my new shelf.
On the menu for this week:
Monday -
Tuesday -
Wednesday -
Thursday -
Friday -
Saturday
Sunday -
On my to do list: Sheets and towels need to be washed (might do this tomorrow as J is supposed to be working on the laundry room today); need to pay some bills; I should clean my office/craft room; I would like to finish my current book by Tuesday (125 pages left); and I need to lay out the rest of spring.
Happening this week: I need to do grocery run this week and we have a park playdate scheduled. Of course we are going to visit the library at some point this week.
What I am creating: Nothing that exciting. I really want to work on my December Daily album, but my craft stash is a mess. Guess I need to clean that up first. On the house front, I have the wallpaper to cover the back of the built-ins. Just need to find some time and motivation to actually do it. It’s a small change, but I think it will make a big visual impact to that dark wall of the living room.
My simple pleasures: Good coffee, a few minutes of silence, new shelving unit to organize (love getting stuff of the floor).
Looking around the house: Our laundry room is officially in renovation, but a small one. We debated doing a full reno or a temporary one and have decided on the temporary. We’re just going to cosmetically fix the back wall (just sanding and painting as they stained directly onto the drywall). J wants to move the water line about 18 inches to another wall, but that’s going to take a plumber. Not sure the timeline on that… And he’s debating about grounding the 220 line and moving the 110 line over. This would leave me with a much more functional, if not pretty laundry room.
From the camera: I put together a new shelf to hold our homeschooling supplies. My office/craft room is finally coming together. Next step is to clean off the floor.
Alice by Christina Henry
Title: Alice (The Chronicles of Alice #1)
Author: Christina Henry
Publisher: Ace 2015
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 304
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo the screams of the poor souls inside.
In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blond, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn’t remember why she’s in such a terrible place. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood...
Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago.
Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful. And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.
CW: Sexual assault, rape
I finally got to read this gritty adult version of Alice in Wonderland. Whoever had checked it out from the library kept it for a year during the pandemic. Terrible! But I got it and tore through this book. I love dark retellings of classic stories and this one delivers on that promise. We get Alice and Hatcher (Mad Hatter) traveling through the Old City to attempt to defeat the Jabberwock. We get encounters with the Walrus, the Carpenter, the Caterpillar, the Rabbit, and (my absolute favorite) Cheshire. I adored Cheshire in this book. You definitely shouldn’t trust him, but he is incredibly entertaining. I loved the inclusion of the rose garden. This book wrapped up the Jabberwock storyline but leaves the overall storyline open further adventures in the world. I can’t wait to read the next in the series. But be forewarned, this is a very gritty adult take on Alice in Wonderland, not for children or even teens.
The Chronicles of Alice
#1 Alice
#2 Red Queen
#3 Looking Glass
Next up on the TBR pile:
A House at the Bottom of a Lake by Josh Malerman
Title: A House at the Bottom of a Lake
Author: Josh Malerman
Publisher: 2016
Genre: Horror
Pages: 114
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
The story begins: young lovers, anxious to connect, agree to a first date, thinking outside of the box.
At seventeen years old, James and Amelia can feel the rest of their lives beginning. They have got this summer and this summer alone to experience the extraordinary.
But they didn’t expect to find it in a house at the bottom of a lake.
The house is cold and dark, but it’s also their own.
Caution be damned, until being carefree becomes dangerous. For the teens must decide: swim deeper into the house—all the while falling deeper in love?
Whatever they do, they will never be able to turn their backs on what they discovered together. And what they learned:
Just because a house is empty, doesn’t mean nobody’s home.
I randomly picked this on up after seeing a review on another book blog. I was intrigued by the premise and had a hankering for a horror story. I absolutely adored this one for the atmosphere and descent into an almost dream state over the course of just a few pages. The lake becomes this otherworldly setting that morphs into a creepy horror show once we start exploring the house. I loved how the characters were adamant about not asking “how.” The premise is fascinating and i was very unsettled by the end of the story. Loved it!
Next up on the TBR pile: