• Scenes from Forest Friday

    Although it has recently been quite cold, the Friday before last my learning buddy and I headed to the forest on a drizzly, soggy afternoon. We talked to the forest on a quiet gravel road, really there was no traffic, just a few people out walking or running. Still, there…

  • Chess

    These days there are multiple chess games every day. Mr. TOF has been learning to play, and his siblings are happy to oblige him in matches. In fact, the chess board sometimes gets to be a distraction and I have to momentarily “misplace” it until some things are checked off…

  • Some Things I’m Loving

    I have been loving the way the late winter afternoon light makes shadows on the dining room walls this time of the year. When I look out the family room window at my neighbor’s garage, the winter light also makes a beautiful shadow from their grape vine in January, and…

  • Remnants from Homework

    I typed the title of this post, and then wondered, can you really call schoolwork “homework” if all of the schoolwork is completed at home all the time? It just doesn’t quite feel right. Everyone has been back to their little study corner in the house this week as school…

  • Evening Practice

    She practices on her own now just as much as she practices with me, which means that I am probably going to need to quadruple my own piano practice time to keep up with all the accompaniments that I need to learn. Also, I am going to need to practice…

  • New Years Eve

    The New Year was rung in by everyone sticking their nose into a book and quietly reading away until the clock struck midnight. Then there was a little whoop and holler, and everyone headed off to bed. Earlier in the evening Mr. TOF and the Devious Snail watched some lovely…