There's none of it at all!

"The funniest thing about it is the way it likes to grow:

Not at all like proper children which is always very slow.

For it sometimes shoots up straighter like an India-rubber ball

And it sometimes gets so little that there's none of it at all."

-Robert Louis Stevenson

Though Robert Louis Stevenson was, of course, referencing his shadow, I think this quatrain fits well with the current state of my life. (and probably the lives of many of you gals who are graduated.) It seems like we're either sitting with so much free-time we're about crazy, or the schedule merits none at all. I'm about to enter a none-at-all stage, and I'm looking forward to it.

Since we're a "political family" (i.e. don't sit around with our heads in the sand), autumn is not so much pumpkin-spice lattes as it is campaigning. And in Virginia this year we have a really vital race. The spot for governor is up for grabs and the nation's (collective) eye is on the race; whoever becomes governor will swing Virginia one way or the other which will effect national elections in the next few years. You'll likely remember me speaking of the SAT's last year (student action teams) with Generation Joshua; they have called for two early SAT's in addition to the normal ones over election-week, and are trying to gather 200 students for each round! I have volunteered as a leader for those two (as well as the normal one). That means that from the 19-24 I will be in Northern VA, and from October 3-8 I will be in Southern VA. In addition to this, we have our beloved County Fair this weekend, a family camping trip planned for the week after the second early SAT in October, and the girls go to camp mid-October. (I am not taking that full week out of my time for obvious reasons. :D) Of course after October comes election-week with the normal SAT. I'm really hoping and praying that we can get Ken Cuccinelli elected as our next governor; he's a Catholic, homeschooling father with excellent values who stands for everything I am concerned about as a young, intelligent, and voting single woman. Please be praying with me that the fondly-termed "Operation Shock & Awe" will change the course of Virginia history--most candidates whose races our SAT's helped push through election day credit GenJ kids with tipping the final scale. I know it has worked before and I pray these kids' efforts will help push Ken Cuccinelli through. I am SO excited! If you've never done something like this you can't understand the energy and thrill of working so closely with the stuff that changes American history. Seriously now. Get involved with politics; if the country has lame leaders, it's really our fault.

Off the political topic, I am also teaching English Literature to Leah and creative-writing lessons to Leah, Anna, and our cousin Emily. (This will have to be slipped here and there through cracks.)

Also in the background is my online shop, The Warren, which hasn't exactly taken off with a bang because of the fact that I've had no  time to publicize it. So if any of you felt like helping me out with that...(blog buttons, mentioning on your blog, following The Warren on Facebook... :) The business is finally beginning to boom (after three years of nil), praise GOD, and we are having to work Saturdays to keep up. I am still doing billing and occasional office-related things in addition to going out on the work-crew now and then. (the other girls and Benj still carry the brunt of that.) This month I got to do it all at Starbucks. (hence the picture above. Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate is divine.) Oh yes. And I'm writing a Cinderella-novella (25,000 words) which I have to finish, get critiqued, edit, and send into author Anne Elisabeth Stengl's contest by December. The reason I'm pushing to do this is that the best five stories will be published by Rooglewood Press in an anthology dubbed: Five Glass Slippers. Of course A.E. Stengl will get all the money from it, but the winners have have glory, honor, and free publicity in connection with a very successful author in the Christian-fiction circles. So I'm writing my best and shoving it in the ring and we'll see what outcome the Lord has for all that! It would be a lovely break into the realm of publicity for my writing which is currently-unpublished-but-seeking-to-remedy-that.

So yes. I'm bonkers. This fall is bonkers. And I'm loving every minute of it. ^.^

When the frost is on the punkin'..

Life is picking up quickly as we start up schoolwork. Of course I'm a graduate so I don't technically have schoolwork, but I've set myself a goal that keeps me plenty busy enough each day. :) Everyone else is deep into their books and working hard. :)
I've always been a big reader but I've found it increasingly harder to actually make purposeful time for reading...when I do I generally go directly to my beloved classics and pass over other reading. ;)

{hee-hee}

So I decided I wanted to read for 2 hours a day, and divided it thus:

40 minutes of classics (including Shakespeare, which I'm learning to love)

40 minutes of history (includes biographies or general history)

40 minutes of life/Christianity

This new schedule's been working pretty well, and combined with my goal to write 1,000 words a day or do an hour of editing/research as well as spending up to an hour in the office, planning lessons for Leah and Anna, and helping out with the house, my days are full and productive. :)

But though it is technically still summer I cannot wait for all the of the lovely pieces of Autumn that make it my top-favorite season! <3 Some of the things I'm looking forward to?

Fall colors! We've had an exceptionally wet summer so I'm optimistic for a vibrant fall!

Autumn clothes. Best ever.

Scarves and jeans :)

Making Gingersnaps or these ^ Snickersnaps or Gingerdoodles! :)

----And please pardon this horrid mess while I change the look of the blog!--

a lesson in grammar. :)

Although I'm not the world's best grammar-ist, I do have a beef about the use of "well" and "good," and I like my family to use the words properly. Nothing grates on my literary ear as much as someone saying, "Oh yeah--I was doing good until..." or "That really tastes well." *shuddering*
But I got a little over-ambitious in trying to teach the proper usage to Grace. (Age 5) Our conversation went something like this:

Me: "Gracie. You know the words 'well' and 'good?'"
Grace: "Yeah."
Me: "You say 'I'm doing well' but you don't say 'I'm doing good.' But you can say 'This food is good.' and you wouldn't say 'This food is well.'" (I am already a tad confused at this point.)
Grace: "Why?" (looks confused too)
Me: "Because that's proper English."
Grace: "What's proper English?"
Me: "The way you're supposed to say things."

A few minutes later and I decided to see if any of my slap-dash lesson stuck with her....

Me: "So Gracie...what's proper English?"
Grace: "Um....I'm not allowed to say I'm doing fine?"

Yeah...I guess 5 years old is a bit too young to teach proper grammar. :D

Hilarious Mail... :)

 

"It is my opinion that a person who can write a long letter with ease cannot write ill."

                -Jane Austen

My pupils may cause me great secret amusement with their definitions, spelling, and their answers to reading comprehension, but there's certainly nothing wrong with their imaginations! These letters came to me after I assigned Leah and Anna to write a charming letter from one character to another that had to be at least 2 pages long. I am  rather proud of them. Enjoy! :) (All spelling, grammar, and punctuation as the original)

Leah's Letter: Comprised of a plethora of commas, hyperboles, and a cold heart

Dearest Adelaide,
     How are you this glorious day? Has your cold bettered? As I write to you, I am siting in the Duke of Shamphires seat, and at his most equisite desk. The Duke's drawing room has just recently been decorated, and in the latest French style. Now, you may wonder, how on earth I came here, and I shall tell you.
I have recently made an aquaintence with his daughter. She is the sweetest creature I have ever beheld. She has a slight temper when she is riled. But beyond that there is no seeable fault with her. I am having a wonderful time in the country. We have attended 5 balls, 3 dances & 6 feasts in one week. Though I must admit, I was disappointed in their lack of propriety. What should I expect from country people?
But the Duke's "palace" brings a awed presence in that part of the Shampshire. When people enter the palace, of the most important people of the land, they seem to know they are in the presence of someone higher than they.
Anyway, dearest, you must tell me what have you been doing of late? I'm dying ot hear all the latest town gossip. Has Gertrude married that Italian yet? Has Jenny been to see you lately?
Oh! I wanted to tell you of this young man I met at the Himlet's ball. He was from France, doing a favor to his uncle. He had dark brown hair, with a head of curls, and 2 curls that must have escaped the comb that morning, and were standing impishly out of place. His manner was charming, but I could sense a sort of conceit about him. I must do him credit and mention that he was very gentlemanly and honored me by dancing with me twice. (Well, at least he thought he honored me,) but actually it was quite the opposite. I detested dancing with him, because I saw a man, who I liked much better, and he was moving toward me, and right then "he" had to ask me, and of course I couldn't turn him down.
How I long for you. I do wish you were here. Of course you caught cold right before the day we were going to go with Amelia's family. Well, at least I'm here to do the things here, so I can tell you on my return home.
Oh! Speaking of Amelia's family, they are staying here, at the Duke's house, as well. Amelia's been out almost every night we have been here, with a fellow by the name of William Ruxeby. I like him well enough, it is obvious she likes him too!
You should be proud of me, I have read a book of William Wordsworth's poems today. You are always wanting me to read more, so to oblige you, while you are ill, I did. And I have started one of Dicken's books as well, "Mansfield Park", I believe. Oh, Dear me! I mis-said the author's name. Jane Austen wrote, "Mansfield Park" Charles Dickens wrote a great many other grand books.
That's another things, the libraries here, are superb. There are 2 downstairs, and 2 above the stairs.
As I look about me, hanging on the walls, are portraits of 1 and twenty men and women. It is funny, because you can tell who had the cheery disposition, and who hadn't.
The ones in lighter colors were smiling, the ones in dark colors looked concerned.
Well dearest, the clock chimes 3:00.
               Yours Truly,
                          Mary Ann Willshod

Anna's Letter: Characterized in chief by quick, slashing handwriting, abundantly missplaced commas, and creative spellings. :)

Dearest Jane,
       It was good to receive a letter from you! I can only hope your visit in London has been as you had anticipated. I do wonder though, if you have yet visited Miss Bingley? She and Mr. Bingley have been in London for several weeks now I believe. My stay at Aunt and Uncle's home has been....quite pleasant, although at times I feel lonly and ready to return to Longbourn. I think Father misses me, but who can blame him wholly, for staying with Mamma and Mary and Kitty, I'm sure can get on one's nerves. Have you heard from Charlotte recently? I am going to come and see, her, when I get a chance. I do hope she is doing well. It worries me when dear friends don't write or come to call after they marry and settle. Maybe she is busy with visits to Lady Cathrine Debourg! Oh Dear Jane, almost everyday I think of Lydia, and Mr. Wickom. Poor Lydia, how could she expose herself, and her family, to such gossip and run away with Mr. Wickom. But it is not so unexspected from Lydia.
Jane, I think we both should try our best to comfort Mamma, and try to cheer up Father, because Lydia really didn't think about Father, or Mamma when she ran away. Please write as soon as you, can, althouhg I"m sure London keeps you constantly on your toes! Oh! and if you hear from Charlotte, please write to me and tell me. But I would hope she would write to me, before she would you, seeing as we are good friends!
                  Love,
                    Lizzie

The Netherfield Walk!

 Today my pupils and I took our 3-mile "Netherfield Walk." It was a gorgeous day [not at all like January ought to be ;)] and we set out in high spirits. The rules were as follows:

• You must walk at a brisk pace, so as to get the "brilliancy" in your complexion that Lizzy Bennet acquired from her walk.
• You must speak anything you had to say in a British accent. No if, ands, or buts about it.

 

This is us in our "unbrilliant" state of countenance. :)

The Mad-Cap English Teacher....

The Cross School-Marm....does anyone else think my finger looks really long and scary? :P

I couldn't resist a picture of the bluer than blue lake. :)

At the end of the road (1 1/2 miles) we stopped to do a short photo-shoot....

....A stranger we picked up as a tag-along. ;)

 My students and I....notice the heightened color of our faces? Ah yes. Jane Austen's recipe seems to be working.... ;)

"Her hair, Louisa! She really looked almost wild!!!" :D 

What a horrid picture! I will continue to blame it on the half-wet, half-dry state of my newly-washed hair, and the wind. 

"There's a piece of blue sky--let us catch it!"

...And then we headed home, all downhill. [Well, nearly.] It was a very good walk.

Ah yes. If I weren't in the shadows there'd be quite a bit of pink in that face.

More pink. I approve Jane Austen's remedy for a pale face. How about you? :)

...The Various Reactions to Having Walked Three Miles At Once...

 Leah's main complaint was from her waist-down. 

Apparently her legs are not accustomed to much walking. ;)

 I had to drag this one home after she kept wanting to stop for a rest.

"Maybe someone will come out and offer us something!" she and Leah said at each house we passed, as if we'd been tramping through the Sahara Desert, rather than for a long country walk.

 Sarah complained of blisters, but beyond that she was top-notch. I've been training her.

Me?......

 "You must allow her to be an excellent walker." ;)

Walking is my forte. I love it. There is nothing quite like a ramble through the countryside, especially with sisters. :) I think the girls all enjoyed this experiment, and we heartily applaud Lizzy Bennet for having done it alone, in the mud, cross-country, just to visit a sister with a cold. :)

(All pictures courtesy of Sarah, except for the ones of herself. :)

...Little Letters...

This post began with the intention of being a sewing-project post, complete with lots of pictures. Then our mutual friend T. H.C. (The Horrid Computer) decided to stick his nose into the idea and it all ran amuck. Do forgive it for not being That Sort of Post--it was meant to be, at the start.I suppose you will have to content yourselves with a Little Letters post. I pilfered the idea from Rebecca Jane, and so here I go! :)

...Dear swingy-jeans-skirt: you and I and contra will be a smashing combination.

...Dear It's (Not That) Complicated: As soon as Sarah is done reading you, I get dibs. Okay?

...Dear sewing machines: I love you, you know I do. Please love me back! :)

...Dear Jane Austen: Edmund Bertram is just a little dense about Fanny Price...don't you think?

...Dear "My Current Novel": Please behave. Please behave.

...Dear Hair: Why won't you ever oblige me and look fashionably messy? I can't for the life of me do anything but smooth, glossy looks with you, and those don't particularly suit my face!

...Dear Husband-To-Be: I'm trying my hardest to abide in Christ and learn everything God hands me so I'll be your dream-woman when you find me. :)

...Dear vintage heels: You're perfectly charming, darlings. 

...Dear imagination: Give me a little help thinking up what I can use that white jacquard for--I'm out of ideas.

...Dear vanity: Don't let me quote myself. It's so gauche. 

...Dear feet: Learn contra quickly so I don't embarrass my partners. I'd appreciate it!

...Dear baked-goods: Don't put off such a good smell. I am your creator and you tempt me easily. ;)

...Dear waist: Take a hint. Shrink yourself, please.

...Dear Gracie: You are so utterly kissable. Don't ever grow out of it. :)

...Dear Public at Large: Don't forget the classic books you read as a child. This modern stuff is so...blech.

...Dear Pupils: Please do not giggle at me. My laugh has an automatic response to even smiles. We'll get no work done if you aren't perfectly sober.

...Dear Green tea: Um...you aren't all you're cracked up to be. *runs to hug English Breakfast and P.G. Tips* ;)

Love Ever and Anon,

<3 Rachel

"I am Well-pleased!"

Well, my first day as an English Lit. teacher went rather well, on a whole. The girls were enthralled with the idea, though I fancy it will be hard for them to accustom themselves to having to view me as an Instructress rather than a giggle-factory. ;) We had lessons in how to read aloud well, how this whole course was going to go, and then we read the chapters, went through the Reading Comprehension questions, and then I sent them packing to define their vocabulary list. :)
A fun challenge I am assigning them is to choose one word out of that list and use it in at least one conversation between now and next session. :) My vision for this class if for it to be amazingly fun. Thus, we'll be living vicariously through the book, doing what they do. When Lizzy walks 3 miles to Netherfield you may bet upon it, we'll be taking a 3 miles trek. When there is a dance, we may learn some English Country dances.
Kids thrive on hands-on learning, and young adults even more-so, sometimes. This is going to be a blast! Leah and Anna loved their first lesson, and with plenty of cups of British Tea, our English Lit. class is going to go down in history as the most fun any homeschooler has ever had! ;) Sing Ho for new studies! I am liking this position as teacher very well. :)

P.S. I have also forbidden the watching of Pride and Prejudice until this study is over--then we'll have a marathon, watch the whole thing over tea and cookies, and love it even more than ever! :D (It'll be their carrot-before-the-nose to improve motivation! ;)

In Which I Become a Teacher :)

For some time I have been thinking about starting some classes...as in teaching some classes for my younger siblings. Something I love that they aren't already doing right now. A fabulous idea was percolating for some time in the back of my mind and at last I asked Mama and secured her permission. In addition to my Butcher, Baker and Candlestick maker duties, I am taking on the position of an English Literature teacher. I am so excited about this and have grand plans! I'll be teaching two of my younger sisters, Leah and Anna. (Grades 9 and 6, respectively)
In my last two years of high-school, Sarah and I went through a literature-based unit study called Where the Brook and River Meet. We loved it. The author of this guide went through a very thorough study of the Victorian Era based off of Anne of Green Gables. Rabbit-trails were followed and explored, I gained a love for the amazingly beautiful poetry of that era, I learned about customs, fashion, culture, history, and more. I am seeking to do rather this style of teaching for my English Lit. class.
I decided to start with Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. My younger sisters already love this movie and I figured that reading the book would be perfect because it would retain their attention while at the same time accustoming their ears to the voice of finer literature. After we go through P&P, we'll continue onto something a bit more challenging, then even more challenging, and so on. I can't wait to begin classes, for English literature is so dear to my own heart, I can't wait to help my sisters love it too!

Here is a sample lesson-plan. (I intend for our lessons to be amusing and entertaining. :)

Pride and Prejudice

(Chapters 1 & 2)

Reading Comprehension:

Chapter One:

1. How much money per year is Mr.Bingley entitled to? (4 or 5,000 pounds)
2. When did Mr. Bennet say he would visit the young men of the neighborhood? (When there were twenty of them.)
3. What was the business of Mrs. Bennet's life? (To get her daughters married)
4. What was the solace of her life? (Visiting, and news.)

Chapter Two: 

1. What do we know of Lydia Bennet, thus far? (She is "good-humored", "The youngest," and "the tallest" of the girls.)
2. Who was the woman Mrs. Bennet despaired of being generous enough to introduce the Bennet Family to Mr. Bingley? (Mrs. Long)
3. How many nieces had Mrs. Long? (two)
4. What was Mrs. Bennet's excuse for vowing to "dislike" the making of new acquaintances every day? (She and her husband were advancing in age)

 

Vocabulary:

Define these words in the Webster's 1828 dictionary*:

chaise

design (in its more abstract sense. i.e. "He had a design to visit them.")

scrupulous

solace

circumspection

deign

conjecture

*I am choosing this dictionary because the definitions will be closest to those during Jane Austen's time of life.

Culture:

In Chapter Two it is mentioned that Elizabeth Bennet was trimming a hat. Research the kinds of hats popular during the 1790's. (Jane Austen began writing Pride and Prejudice in 1796) What sort of materials might Lizzy have been using to trim her hat? Which of the styles would look best on you? :)

In Chapter Two Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet have a discussion over the importance of being introduced to a stranger by someone who was already acquainted with the person. Why could they not introduce themselves as we do today? Read about introductions on page 55 of What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew.

That will be their first lesson, and I hope to include more and more activities to do...too bad we haven't any Regency-Era estates in our corner of VA... ;) There are so many possibilities with this sort of study...we could expand into music, art, history, sewing, fashion, grammar, etc. It's quite astonishing what one can pull out of a period-novel. :) I will also be letting the girls read the chapter aloud and instructing them on how to read aloud properly. (Some people bull through, oblivious to all punctuation. It results in mayhem. Believe me. :)

How does this new plan sound? I'll keep you updated on how they're liking me as a teacher, and the lessons as a whole. :D