Mainly because I’m still sewing.
No, don’t say anything, I know!
Tools of the trade. Including Dylon.
Nearly finished.
So nearly finished.
Just keep sewing.
(One hour dress. Humph.)
as we go along
There is a technique sometimes referenced in home education circles called strewing, in which you casually leave educational resources round and about to sucker entice your children into educating themselves. I like to think of myself as an extreme strewer.
I’m not, of course. I’m just disastrously untidy 😉 But today it worked well in my favour.
First of all, Tigerboy found some pieces of a Baker Ross sewing kit, and brought them to me. “Teach me to knit” he said, as he handed me the needle. 😉
So I sat him on my knee and he sewed half way round the pieces of felt before losing interest. I was quite impressed with his manual dexterity to be honest, I don’t think any of the others could have managed that at this age.
And then Smallest, who had wanted to do reading, and writing today, turned me down on pencil work, but demanded to write a blog post, so we loaded up her blog and she dictated. She also did some Reading Eggs and Mathseeds, but turned me down for any actual reading books.
Then the next thing I saw was her first chess lesson. Sat on Small’s knee, they were playing chess online.
The first game rather predictably ended in tears. Then Small left her to it, and she spent the next hour or so taking pieces. I’m not sure what site they were using – it was pretty good though, as when you clicked on a piece it showed you all the possible moves, so she was learning lots about the pieces just by experimenting.
So, crafts, chess, reading and maths. Alongside the usual playing, eating, talking, stories and a bit of TV. Sounds like a pretty full day really.
I lost a week last week, a week that I’d got a lot of sewing lined up for.
So now I’m sewing through the headache. I’ve discovered that if I sit outside the headache is lower – today is the first day I haven’t needed any painkillers. (I’ve even managed to cut down on the chocolate. I must be getting better.)
No appointment in the post today. If there’s nothing tomorrow I’ll be tracking down the referral. Again.
However, all sewing is a learning experience. Today I have learnt how to darn. Sort of.
I have learnt that wool seams can be hard enough to rub through linen linings.
I have learnt that I should require all wearers of costume to inventory it at the *end* of events, so that I have time to work out how to fix it.
I have learnt that I should require children to try on their costume in front of me, rather than taking their word for it on fit. (It doesn’t).
Now, if I can only figure out how to fit two weeks or more of work into three days, I’ll have it all cracked.
#justkeepsewing
Today has mainly consisted of sewing. In the garden though, which makes it easier to cope with somehow. I’ve also discovered that the headache is much less when it’s outside.
I did take a few minutes with the camera though. Insects are even more difficult to shoot than children it seems.
What I would have really liked is a picture of the sparrow who was coming and going above my head – feeding chicks in a nest at a guess. But I’m really not fast enough with my camera for that.
Hope you’ve had a good Sunday.
{reading} Carole Matthews: Summer Daydreams, and ico guidelines on cookies.
{listening} how to lose your baby fat, thinking slimmer (review).
{failing} with cloth nappies (how many changes of clothes today??)
{succeeding} with running, fifth run, another 0.83 miles notched up.
{watching} fantastic Mr fox (and thinking seriously odd film).
{starting} bedroom excavation.
{sewing} still sewing!
{loving} this giraffe.