Every once in awhile life likes to remind us of things we take for granted.
This week I was reminded of at least three things I normally take for granted:
1) Working (kitchen) plumbing.
2) Working joints, like shoulders.
3) Warm weather.
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| Carefree Pomeranian |
So as not to leave you in suspense about the aforementioned impediments, I can say that:
1) After two days and the valiant efforts of the Husband snaking the drain, a quick visit from a plumber fixed the clog and restored function to the kitchen.
2) I've started physical therapy twice a week for the shoulder - which makes it feel better and worse simultaneously (if you've ever had physical therapy for something, you'll understand). Apparently, I've been walking around with my shoulder sitting slightly out-of-socket for months. True to my nature, I put off going to a doctor longer than I should have. I've been admonished by my Physical Therapist and reminded that if something hurts for more than four weeks, it's not going to go away on its own.
3) As I mentioned in my previous post, the Husband and I have embarked upon a Healthy Habits Challenge, which includes 30 minutes of exercise every day. My preferred form of exercise is a nice, long walk, preferably outdoors. This has been a challenge given the unpredictable weather of January in Indiana. As long as the sun is shining, I can find the mental wherewithal to just bundle up and go, but when it's gray and spitting ice from the sky it's a No Go.
I think we can all agree that one of the best parts of the Inauguration this week is all the Bernie memes taking over the internet. Every time I think I've seen my favorite, another one pops up that's equally hilarious. There are just. So. Many.
Other than the excitement of the Inauguration, plumbing issues, and physical therapy appointments, we carried on with our normal school routine.
This week we learned about the Gettysburg Address, Reconstruction, The 13th-15th Amendments, Cowboys, and the Alaska Purchase. It was also our last week reviewing information about Saint Rose Duchesne and our current composer, Beethoven. We also added some geographical features of the New England States to our Geography notebooks.
Our Science Adventures took us back to Australia, where we learned about Owls and Samba Deer. For our demonstration, we dissected an owl pellet. I had discovered that I could purchase a science kit to go with our science curriculum, making things much easier. It includes all the things needed for the demonstrations that are most likely not common household materials.
Like owl pellets.
Fortunately, I already had experience with the owl pellet dissection through our Catholic Schoolhouse (home school co-op) science class. Owls, like all birds, do not have teeth and therefore when they eat, there is quite a bit of undigested material (bones, fur, etc...) that forms into a pellet and is, in the case of the owl, regurgitated from time to time.
So, no, it isn't owl poo - it's owl vomit. Sort of.
The six year-old had claimed that he didn't want to participate in this activity, but once I had everything set up, he quickly donned some gloves and dove right in. We slowly and carefully, pulled apart our pellet and then slowly and carefully, extracted bones (and an entire skull!) from it. Using a chart to help us identify various bones from different animals, we tried to solve the mystery of what our owl might have eaten.
Fascinating and slightly disgusting all at the same time. But that's how science is sometimes.
I'm realizing that I didn't actually take very many pictures this week. I did get a photo of one teen boy putting together a new desk for another teen boy. After a semester holed up in his room studying, College Boy decided that it might be better for his mental health to have the option of doing his schoolwork downstairs. Meaning his mother strongly encouraged him to consider that spending some time outside of his room this semester would be better for his mental health and he acknowledged that I was probably right.
Despite my kitchen plumbing's efforts to sabotage my meal plans, I carried on with one of our "pop challenges" this week for our Healthy Habits Challenge. Basically, we get bonus points for creating and successfully implementing a dinner plan for a week. I've been fairly sporadic with meal planning over the years - usually I just buy enough food to feed a small army with maybe a loose idea of what I can make with it then figure out meals as I go - all the while fully acknowledging that this is not the most efficient or economical way to do things. Thanks to the Instant Pot, and books like the one pictured (Christmas gift from my brother - thanks Chris!), I've nearly run out of excuses for not getting a healthy meal on the table most nights.
Now I just need my boys to get used to every meal including plenty of vegetables. I figure they will either A) get used to it or B) learn how to cook for themselves. Either option is fine.
Our book list was a little shorter this week, but after a trip to the library, I now have around 50 books checked out for the coming weeks with several more still on hold.
A kind old guy even offered to help me carry my load of books - I suppose it looked like a lot to anyone who doesn't home school.
Books:
- Catholic Schoolhouse Tour Guide
- Sassafras Science Adventures in Zoology
- Just a Few Words, Mr. Lincoln
- Rodeo Red
- DK Eyewitness Cowboy
- The Brave Cowboy
- The Deer Watch
- All About Deer
- White Owl, Barn Owl
- A Herd of Deer: Animal Groups in the Forest
That was our week!
~ Dori
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