a pieced and quilted life

homeschool learning: the science and math behind cooking & baking

 

last night's dinner: chicken vegetable soup w/rice and sweet skillet cornbread 

a few days ago i talked about food, and about how much it enriches our lives. well, while doing science and math lessons with the kids yesterday i thought of another way i can sneak it into our lives. a learning way.

we were working on adding three digit numbers and carrying for the little guy and it took him a little bit of work to get it, he's working out of his grade level (which is 1st) for language arts and math in 2nd grade, the language arts is not much of a challenge, but the math..well its right on the line...sometimes too easy and sometimes just challenging enough.

with enough going over and over of place values...he got it...and was adding and carrying like a pro.

in science we were still working on the unit that introduces scientist, what they do and what tools they use. i thought...it would be great to bring this "alive" for them. so i decided to turn dinner into a science/math exercise.

this is what we did:

for dinner we were having chicken & vegetable soup with cornbread. since our current science unit covers the scientist tools for measuring and recording, i decided to let them observe, measure, record and get their hands dirty in our cooking lesson.

making soup science:

we used the soup to focus on temperature and volume. i had the kids measure the volume of the water/broth that we started with (in metrics) and then i had them take the temperature of the water/broth before we started to cook, and then i took the temperature afterwards. this is so they could see how heat rises temperatures and also get a sense for volume.

 

our ingredients

making cornbread science:

the real fun came when we turned making cornbread into science. since i know the recipe by heart...i figured this was a great recipe to turn into a science lesson. i could concentrate on them.

first:

i had them take note of the temperature needed to cook the cornbread and had them write it down on paper.

 

taking the temp. of the milk that goes into the cornbread

second:

i had them measure out and record all the ingredients (in metrics) and add them to the bowl and stir. this gave them a great idea of volume and continued on our conversation of what volume was. it also allowed me to show them that the volume of one cup of milk is the same volume of one cup of cornmeal or flour.

as we went along, i had them write out the recipe, making sure to accurately record the volumes in milliliters.

 

writing out the recipe 

third:

of course we mixed it all up and put it into the oven (again taking note of temperature, comparing it to the temperature of the soup cooking) to cook.

making cornbread math:

after we put the cornbread into the oven, i had them go back to their recipe and find the total volume of our cornbread batter.

they added up all the different volumes of the ingredients and found the total volume of the recipe.

talking over dinner:

while we ate dinner...we talked about the total volume we came up with...and i explained to them that the total volume of the cooked cornbread was that large number we got.

it was a very exciting little "experiment" for the kids and a great way to get them to see that science and math are always a part of our lives. they got a chance to see how they use science and math in everyday life.

 

measuring spoons with metric conversions

this is a great exercise to do with your kids when cooking any meal...i do suggest that it is a meal you know how to cook backwards and forwards, because you'll be explaining a lot and paying more attention to the kids then to the process of cooking. i also suggest having some measuring cups/spoons with metric conversions to make the process easier.

happy homeschooling!

luv, ki

 * i apologize for the less than stellar pictures...night time + camera + flash = yucky pictures

welcome back school...

i love it when school starts back up...its a lot of work...but really there is nothing better. i wish everyone could try the homeschooling experience...just once.

this year the little lady is in 2nd grade and the little guy is in 1st. 

we are so use to homeschooling and our way of life that the new season is gladly welcomed around here.

during the summer i missed having their full attention for four hours straight...and i think they missed having mine too.

i've signed up to be a mentor for k12 this year (for new families)...along with helping my sis along also (yes...she's now homeschooling with k12 too...yay!)...so i've decided to try and share a little more of what we do (homeschooling wise) here for those that i'll be mentoring...and any other curious souls.

we'll start with our first day...

the kids in front of our school room...very excited to be starting a new year...

handwriting with out tears...

concentrating...working hard...

independent work...

the discovery of silly bandz...thanks to their cousins...

secret messages to mommie...revealed...

if you can't tell....we love our schooling lifestyle. i know that i'm doing a great job when i get messages like these from the kids. 

last year, they wold write me love letters on their assignment sheets...i'd get back their work with hearts, stars and "i love you" and "your the best" all over their papers...

its their own way of letting me know they are learning...i know they don't realize it, but i do. when they are learning...they are happy...they feel loved...and send it right back to me.

i know homeschooling seems a bit radical for a lot of other families. people wonder about socialization and so on, they worry if they are equipped to teach their kids, if their kids could learn and thrive in this sort of setting...

well, my answer is...yes, you/they can.

no it isn't for every family/child...but if it is for your family/child...embrace it.

my children have excelled academically...both are working a grade level above...both love learning...both love exploring...and both love reading.

the great thing? they both have their individual talents, gifts and interest that are being meet.

the little lady? well she loves history, math...and reading.

the little guy? he loves science, spelling...and reading.

the k12 program really has given them a great appreciation for learning...for example, ya-ya loves mummies...she loves egyptian culture. we visited the natural history museum this summer and she was in love with the egyptian/mummy exhibit...it all came alive for her.

and the little guy has really taken a liking to science which has gotten him interested in bugs and different habitats...yesterday he bought a book on rain forests with his allowance...and two days before that a book on scorpions. 

i really can't say enough good things about our experience...i wish all kids had the opportunity to learn in this way. i know that as a mother...i relish the time i get teaching them...and how strong a bond it creates with our family.

i hope everyone's school year is off to a great start!

peace & luv,

ki

questions about the way we homeschool?

so i talked about homeschooling a bit in my last post. well, i touched lightly on why we/i do it. i thought i'd do a little sharing of the way we learn, here at home. 

if your not a homeschooling family, or have never been around a family that homeschools it may seem a bit intimadating or even confusing. 

it isn't, and i'll share how it works for us.

what?

first question people have is generally a what question. what do you do? what curriculum do you use? what is it like? what do the kids learn? 

we use the k12 program, specifically we are apart of k12's public school program. what this means is that my children are enrolled in a public charter school where the learning is done online/at-home. 

what this also means is that my children have a state certified teacher who oversees their curriculum and education. she tests them to make sure they are in classes that are appropriate to their particular levels (not their age) and she also meets with us and monitors their progress throughout the year.

this means that my children are held to the same learning standards as all the other children enrolled in public school in ca. they have to take the same state testing; their studies have to be in line with state standards, all of the standards applies to them also.

what is my role? i am their learning coach. what that means is that i work with them on a daily basis, going over their lessons, teaching them, and monitoring their work/progress daily.

i am the one doing the lessons, grading the work, and teaching the concepts. if and when we have a problem we meet with the teacher.

what subjects are they learning?

math, language arts, world history, science, music, art, and they also have p.e.

how?

the next question is generally how? how do you do it? how does the kids like it? how does your husband/mother/in-laws/everyone else in the world feel about it? how do they get socialization? how do they learn?

i do it day by day. it is a lot of work, but it is very gratifying work. there is nothing that prepares you for the moment you see your child learn something new, and the smile that spreads across their face.

but, how else? well, we have a set homeschooling schedule where we plan which subjects we cover on each day. the lessons are already planned for us, all i have to do it teach it to them. all our books, manipulatives, computer, worksheets, etc. is provided for us. we just provide the pencils, crayons, etc.

how does everyone feel about? well, i'll be honest. my mother and aunt didn't sign on right away, they was a little worried about them being sheltered, etc. well, that opinion has changed dramatically. they think it is the best thing available for kids now, and support it whole-heartedly.

my in-laws have been onboard since the beginning, along with my husband...and well my granma...she was the one who told me about...years ago.

and the kids? they love it...love, love, love.

how do they get socialization? extra-curricular activities, sports classes, field trips, cousins...hanging out with mama at the art gallery, talking with adults while doing errands with me...the list really goes on and on.

how do they learn? like all other kids, except they have one-on-one attention so our school day seems to be much more productive and quicker than b&m (brick and mortar) schools. they are free to work at their pace, which builds up their confidence and makes them stronger and more confident learners.

where?

the next question is generally where, where do we learn?

we have a family room off our kitchen which we converted into our school room. it's perfect because it is away from the t.v., wii, toys; it gets lots of light; and it looks into the garden so we watch a lot of birds, butterflies and bees do their work too.

do you need a dedicated room to homeschool?

not at all...all you need is a table and maybe a bookshelf or something similar.

i do suggest having it away from distractions...as its really easy to get a bit distracted.

when?

another question that we get often is when,when did we get started? when do we homeschool? and then how long does it take?

i started homeschooling them when they were little...basically pre-school. teaching them how to write, spell their names, alphabets, colors, shapes, numbers...the whole nine. in fact i also started teaching them minor addition/subtraction too.

our homeschooling schedule starts at around 12/1pm. and we school straight until about 3/4pm. they get additional schooling with my husband on thurs evenings or weekends (which ever works best for the week) in music, and we fit p.e. in throughout the week.

sports classes count for p.e. as does walking around the neighborhood lake...so that changes depending on the season and our interest.

so we homeschool about 4 hours a day...but i also find ways to introduce learning, reading, science, math and exploration into the rest of our day.

why?

and lastly the biggest question we get is why? why do we do it?

i homeschool primarily because i know that the curriculum they are getting is the best that i can provide them with at this time.

our local public schools do not have curriculums that i am impressed with and that i feel teach what i want them to learn.

because of different laws, etc. the lessons are heavily focused on math/language arts and the other subjects are added in whenever teachers can fit them. if they have the resources (art and music isn't taught). 

for example, my daughter loves history...the local public school doesn't have time to teach history and what the kids do get is more "social studies" than true history. social studies covers things like "our neighborhood" and the roles of policemen, firefighters, etc. 

i want for them to be challenged academically, and this program provides that. 

they learn about ancient civilizations, earth science and astronomy and they also get electives like art, music and foreign language.

additionally, both of them are above grade level so k12 ensures that they are getting the opportunity to learn at their level.

every family homeschools for a different reason...and i trully believe that every family has the right to choose what works best for their family/children.

i know that because this works for my family, doesn't mean that it will work for another family. and also, because it works this year for us, doesn't mean that it will work in upcoming years.

every year we evaluate our family and children's needs and decide what will best meet them.

i hope this provides some insight into one avenue of primary education and homeschooling in general. i'd be more than willing to answer any other questions.

peace & luv...

ki

where did july go?

no really, did anyone keep tabs? i know i didn't it went by too fast....

last week was a yucky week for me...i'll spare the under-the-weather details...i save those for my sis nina, and e...

but, it's made me finally commit to a new vitamin regiment...complex b, b-12, and soon i'll be adding in calcium-magnesium, along with a few herbs that i've added already.

let me tell you about the complex b, liquid, sub-lingual supposedly raspberry flavored torture...it taste like evil...and doesn't leave your mouth soon enough. i'd rather drink (and swallow) brown listerine. truly. 

but...i'm slowly starting to feel better. so on with the show right? right!

i don't know about your july, but my july has been filled with writing, reading, dreaming (literally and figuratively), and carting the kids to golf classes.

i've had dreams about my granma that have made me wail and made me feel loved all at once...i've written some things i'm smitten with and disgusted by...and reading...well that's always a pleasure.

the kids "graduated" from their first month of golf class this past saturday...and it was such a pleasure to watch them play a hole all by themselves (with coach's tiny bit of help). their golf coach is such a wonderful teacher...he doesn't just teach them about golf, but he coaches them about life too.

at the end of each class we have a round table and each kid has to get up and speak in front of the class, telling what they learned that week. parents have to participate, but also, we have to let them go in the class too. the kids get chances to be leaders for the week and help the coach "run" the class...(mykey and yali were co-leaders last week)...they go off together as a group and exercise and stretch...its really been so wonderful for our family/kids.

wanting to stay present in the class...i haven't taken pictures till this past saturday...the graduation day (when us parents have to sit on the bench and not say a word to the kids)...

here is flicks from last saturday:

warm-up/putting practice:

 

 yali addressing the ball

putting...

mykey addressing the ball...

mykey putting...

impromptu tai-chi lesson by a golfer walking by, coach asked her to give the kids a lesson...so kindly she did..

they all did so good...i so wished i could of filmed it...it was too cute.

golfing a hole by themselves with coaches help...the graduation:

yali tee-ing off...she's got the pose (coach is big on posing to the ball stops)

     
yali chipping...see the coaches face...yeap it was a good swing!

mykey tee-ing off (i think)

mykey chipping, his swing got really strong and he was chipping the ball well...look at him all out there by himself...

    

once they got to the fringe, coach let them putt the ball... 

 

 putting...

 

hole in!

my little golfers...they were so proud of themselves...

coach debriefing them...and telling them how proud he was of them...as was me & e

the kids, e & i love the class...its a great chance for the kids to play with other kids, learn some leadership and public speaking skills...and pick up a love of golf. their coach is a retired police detective that has coached many kids to beginning pro careers and college scholarships...right now the kids just love the game...but hey, like coach says, who knows where this can take them in life.

and...we met another k-12 family in the class, the little girl is just one grade/year ahead of ya-ya...she's got nothing but older brothers...so me and her mom have decided to get the girls together for a reading club or something once school starts. i'm so happy for both girls.

we've never done the "play date" thing so i'm clueless as to how this will play out. they're a great family...so i'm sure things will go well.

well...here's to august...i hope to keep better tabs of my time...lots to do before school starts!

hope summer is warm, sunny and fun for everyone!

peace, ki

are you there spring, it's me kiandra...and i've got veggie plants

the kids and the new bed, homeschooling and gardening...

"are you here...are you here..." i'm singing to spring...the sun and sky...i hope your here to stay for a while....

i never needed a season to rejuvenate my spirit...like now...i'm so grateful.

the past 2 weeks have been spent cleaning, rebuilding...and finally replanting our garden. 

it seems like we've been steadily growing and expanding our vegetable gardening space since we began 4 years ago.

 

 

top to bottom: the bed at the end of winter, the tree we cut down, cleared bed, planted bed   

this year's no different, and we decided to build a new garden, a raised garden, out of cinder blocks. 

i've never had much of "a green thumb"...toting a much browner thumb...literally and figuratively...but somehow vegetable gardening has been something of a gardening revolution for me..i feel at home and quite able. much like parenting...nurturing and learning along the way. still growing and expanding on previous years.

the thing here is that i really love and enjoy working within the earth...creating with the earth...being thoughtful...a little wild...and a little tentative. there's room for spontaneity and caution...suits me.

a garden can be so many things...all at once...quite and noisy...colorful and monotone...living and dying...there's just so much dichotomy in a garden...really.

lovely cleared patio (e doesn't like to leave the cushions out...they'll get dirty he says lol) 

 

the new raised cinder bed...some what planted

so thus far we've:

cleared, enriched and planted the old bed

built a new raised garden

started some seeds indoors.

it took quite a bit of elbow greese, time, attention...and many, many trips to the nursery...

e doesn't too much care for this part of the gardening process...but honestly this is my favorite part...beginning...starting...the excitement...the planning, the anticipation...and of course the work.

there is a lot of soreness that comes along...but i actually enjoy it.

we're planting a lot of stuff this year...the usual suspects and some new things too:

cabbage (green, red and chinese)

brocoli and cauliflower

brussels sprouts

beets

eggplants

cucumbers (armenian and burpless)

peppers (jalapeno, poblano, bell peppers, heirloom sweet, and red sweet)

tomatoes (lots of different varieties...heirloom, main crops, and early, and some from seed)

squash (yellow, crockneck, zuchini, heirloom)

pumpkins (from seed and plant)

melons (honeydew, watermelon, muskmelons)

corn (from seed)

artichokes

asparagus (these are new bulbs so more than likely no fruits this year)

herbs (basil, lemon balm, cilantro, oregano, thyme, stevia, parsley)

gourds (birds house and luffa for drying and using for the bath)

marigold

lettuce (buttercrunch, romaine and traditional)

i'm sure i'm leaving something out we've been collecting lots of plants these past few weeks.

  seedlings...5 days in

i started my seeds in doors 8 days ago...and within just a few days things were already starting to sprout, though not everything. the fastest and most advanced is the pumpkin...who's now sprouting its true leaves i think. but also coming along is the radish, tarragon, oregano...and i've seen one watermelon and corn seed sprout. 

the tomatoes and squash have been a little "lazy," if you can call seeds that...i'm guessing they aren't warm enough, or getting enough sunlight...so i've been taking all the seeds out to sun bath on the covered patio daily. and i also gave them a light dose of fish fertilizer...and i do mean light. seems to be working.

its also been a almost a week since we put most of our crops out in the garden, and i am happy to say (thus far) no casualties. the muskmelons are looking a little suspect (so i gave them a little fish food too)...but the cold weather crops (cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, beets, lettuce) are all looking mighty strong. in fact we've got broccoli crowns on all (3) plants...i was telling e...i wish i had bought more...we devour broccoli here. but i was unsure how they'd grow.

 

 patio herb pot

i want to give them a bit of time to get acclimated and then i'll feed them with...yeap...fish food. either later today...or tomorrow.

i cannot say enough about fish fertilizer and the wonders it does in the organic vegetable garden...plants love it and turn out so healthy...

so i'm wondering...what is everyone else growing in the earth these days? anything special? new? old timers? i know that i'm quite a lucky gardener here in sunny southern cali...but that sun (in my area) can turn wicked hot once the warm season starts...the thought of cool weather crops is laughable anytime after may and before november.

my family loves cool weather crops..carrots, and broccoli, celery and lettuces...so this year i pinky promise i will garden year round...and not stop once fall sets in. that was part of the reason why i proposed we build the second raised bed...more of an incentive. 

before i head on about my day...i've had some interesting things happen in the garden while i wasn't tending it.

overwintered heirloom tomato plant... 

last summer i brought a heirloom tomato plant (one of many) and it didn't do quite so well...i stuck it in a pot and forgot about it. well...it over-wintered and is actually doing sort of okay...so much in fact i put it in the ground. its not uncommon for our tomato plants to survive well into november...maybe even december...but to last all winter...that's a first.

and lastly...i planted some carrot seeds this time last year...of course the heat struck and no matter how much i tried to shelter them by placing them literally "underneath" the tomatoes...they didn't do well...well surprise! when we were cleaning out the bed...we found tons of carrots that had grown. unfortunately all the rains we had in the beginning of the year caused them to go bad...some cracked in the ground...but again...lesson learned...i'll definitely be throwing some carrot seeds out late summer.

 

family gardening shoes 

*this post has been a work in progress...started and stopped about a week ago...the pictures were taken over last weekend or monday...and since then...of course things have started to change...more seeds have sprouted and the garden is "settling" in...i love the first week or so after setting new plants out...the plants just seem to perk up and sprout over night...literally..it can be quite hard to keep up with them. it can also be a  quite anxious time too...some plants aren't quite as happy a week in...

well, for the second time...i'm off to begin my day with the kids...we'll be making our rounds at the local nursery...see if there are any new plants in, and to pick up a collard tree to deliver to a friend in riverside. somehow i've become a mobile nursery for a few friends. and maybe another friday trip to the gallery...after all friday is our art day.

and sewing...yes...sewing/serging/pattern cutting-drafting is in the plans too!

go out and create!

luv and peace...ki

this and that...that and this...let's play catch-up!

i cannot believe its already mid December!! I've taken to writing love letters to my fleeting lover time! as he is truly evading me these days..

its like i'm in a long distance love relationship with time...he comes...fleeting into my life...only to leave me hanging and longing for him to stay around longer.

one day i'll marry time!...until then...i'm happily very busy!

so let's get down to business...what the heck have i been up to to stay away for...i don't want to know how many days?

1. homeschooling still...going well...kids are amazing

2. started going to acupuncture...and its working!! thankfully...

3. wonderful holiday rush, more orders in a couple of weeks than I've ever had (thank you wonderful customers!!)

4. finished up a 3 quilt, quilting commission

5. looking at schools, and wondering when and which way i'll finally finish my degree

6. creating my facebook fan page, won't you join please?

7. tea staining fabric 

8. creating artwork for an upcoming gallery show (February, 2010) on: play

9. and finally creating a bag and writing a corresponding article for haute handbags magazine (woohoo!)

let me be honest here...even though it gets "hairy" sometimes...i crave being busy...i crave it like i crave kisses and hugs from my lil loves...and do-nothing, veg-out time with e...its just better to have something to do..than to sit with idle fingers...staring back at me holding nothing.

now that i'm caught up with shop orders, and i think my holiday rush has passed...i'm happily getting excited and working on all sorts of things...

i'm really excited about the upcoming art show...as i'm going back to cloth...working with art quilts...and falling in love all over again with quilting. this time i'm changing it up...working in smaller dimension...and doing it all by hand (except for piecing some seams).

i'm also excited about the upcoming article in haute handbags...i just sent my article out this morning...and will wait with my fingers crossed, eyes closed and breath held till it comes out. i've been told its coming out in april, 2010...but sometimes these things are held over to another publishing...so we'll see. nothing is set in stone...till its well...set in ink. ha!

the month is almost over...i'm so freaking excited about the holidays i really can't stand it...but i'm excited to get started baking and crafting this week...i've got plans...and plans...and plans...lets see how many of them we i can get done.

I've decided to put together a little picture stroll...of everything that's happened in the past few weeks...what's a post with out tons of pictures?

let's go!

yummy food

vegan cornbread...for my dressing....so tasty!

simi-vegan homemade thanksgiving dinner...only non-vegan item is the chicken (e will not go totally vegan...), this is e's plate...so the candied yams were missing.

p.s. i did make 2 vegan sweet potato pies ( i ate an entire one by myself that weekend...no joke) and a vegan pecan pie...which the boys ate...they were too devoured for pictures...the other sweet potato pie is in the freezer, vacuum sealed (so that I wouldn't have eaten two in the weekend by myself)!

shop stuff:

beautiful tomato red petal bag made for a lovely customer jenn...i ♥ her!

 

front...

back...

inside...

pencil cases...

inside pencil cases...

this lovely set of goods and zakka was made for a wonderful customer's 3 year old daughter. these are some old deer-skin hides from her deceased father...that i made into bags for her (earlier in the year) and now for her daughter...with accompanying pencil cases (2 for her, 2 for her brother)...

this was one of my favorite projects...i channeled my 7-year old self...and designed from things i remember drawing at that age.   

new moo cards...love the new case..though i love the old ones too.

my 3 designs...

 

yogi tea bag tags i've been saving... 

i've been organizing all my embroidery floss as a productive "unwinding, vegging out" project at the end of the evenings...

thanks to a promotion with verizon fios (and good cyber monday sales)...we got a new laptop...for almost free...its not a mac, but i and e have loved using it during the evenings...this means i can finally get his large desktop out of my studio (yay!!!) and have more storage space...and the room officially to myself! 

my only wish for it being mac is so that i could use photoshop on it...so i could blog from it...i have elements...so i'll install that eventually...it is already loaded with eq6 and this!

my side of the bed this morning...and last night...while working on my article...i kept taking breaks to look at the new books i've gotten recently...and brush up on my sewing techniques. i'm being very ambitious in the new year...making all my clothes! stay tuned!

 

i got this wonderfully beautiful card friday night...just because, from the boy...look at the worm in the lower left hand corner...and the lady bug in the sky amidst the falling colored snow...and aren't i cute in my pink dress? that's charlie our bird on the tree limb in case u were wondering...this was the greatest gift!

we decided to homeschool in my studio today...like we did before the kids started kinder...this is today's lesson books that we had to cart upstairs...see why i'm so busy? one day's worth of lessons!

my sweet boy...getting ready for school this morning...in his guitar p.j.'s that he's been refusing to take off until santa brings him his electric guitar...sigh...gotta love childhood...

 

my lil lady...who always comes to class dressed...and accessorized...while me and the lil guy look like bums...she wants to start designing her own clothes...wait till she sees what "santa" brings her to help her with those ambitions!

art work in process...more later on the kikasa blog...

my latest collection...weaving yarns...can't wait to have time to weave again! my towels are already stained up from much use at the dinner table!

 

and finally...a sneak peak of our christmas so far...we got our 2 trees a couple weeks ago...decorated one of them...and will be decorating the other tonight...can't wait to share more christmas pics!

so there...this is the jest of what i've been up too...of course there were wonderful meals that i didn't get to snap pictures of, holiday cookies...and gingerbread dough...rain and hail storms...

its been a rush, these last few weeks...i'm so excited to bring in the new year...to celebrate the holidays...i literally can't stand it! i've never been this excited about a new year...like now!

i'm excited to see what wonderful things the universe and i dream up together!

peace...ki

p.s. i hope to stop this binge...purge..blemic posting schedule that i'm on...but truth is...i can't make any promises...when i do post...i'll make it worth while!! i know i'll be back soon...something special is coming in the mail wednesday...i wonder if you all can guess...one of the pictures gives a good clue!

thanks for accompanying me on this journey...thus far...we're almost 3 years strong!

p.p.s my sis is back! pay her a visit over at www.neosewmama.typepad.com she's had some amazing life changes...wonderful...go tell her hi!
        

our schoolroom (vintage post from old blog...)

**here's a post dated 8/12/08 that got lost on another blog i started...and let languish by the wayside...:

our schoolroom

so i've promised a few times to share our school room. it is very much still a minor work in progress, as is most of my house but it is for the most part done.

our schoolroom, is "housed" in what used to be our family room, which is apart of the kitchen and a little dining area that sits off the kitchen, between the family area...and the kitchen.

this room has always been the most used area of our house (along with my studio) as i'm always in the kitchen cooking or baking, and we have all our meals together at the table. the other good thing about this room is that it gets wonderful light in the day...and it is our house access to the back yard.

i decided that this would be the best room for schooling, once the t.v. was removed, because we have an area to eat breakfast, snacks and do cooking exercises, etc. not to mention the light is wonderful..and its probably the best area we have that has ample wall space. every other room has windows on almost every wall.

so here is a tour of our schoolroom.

the eating area.

when you first enter the room this is the first view...the eating area.

the "schoolroom"

to the left of the eating area is the actual "school" area. the formal area. the kids have a child's table that seats four, that have shelves underneath the table. the table is the perfect size for them, with a little room for them to still grow into. we found it at costco for about $200 and luckily we had the extra money to buy it. i think its best to give kids a table where they can comfortably sit, and have space to do school work.

the right of the kids desk.

to the right of the kids' work area is a little seatee, and access to the backyard. the seatee is a nice place for us to sit and read books...sometimes the kids will nap here also.

the left of the kids' work area. this is where our bookshelf is with all of the kids' supplies, books, etc. and the home of our belated mr.fish (who passed last week).

the bookshelf is not to organized, i'm waiting for the big shipment of school work/curriculum to come and then i'll go through and organize it better.

behind the kids desk is our fireplace, which we don't use, but hopefully we'll start putting it to use.

above the fireplace i have this bulletin board, i plan on putting up the kids work during the school year and other seasonal things. which means i need to get another board the same size as this one...

the view of the kitchen from the schoolroom.

bulletin board #2,

here's the second of the bulletin boards, this one is our calendar board which is doing good with helping the kids learn the months, the concept of dates, weather and seasons. they have a loose idea of these concepts but the calendar is helping to make it more concrete. it also helps with the "when is..." questions that we field constantly.

the kids, i and e love the schoolroom. its amazing how once we changed the room into a schooling area how are lives just seemed to morph in the right direction. its not uncommon to find the kids working at there desk on school stuff, crafts or letters to the family while me or me and e are making meals. there's been quite a few times that we cuddle on the seatee and read books, or the kids read there on their own.

they also love the wide open space. lately they've been putting it to use building "cities" with their blocks. they build all the places they like to go...space them out and set up their little figures to visit around the city. with all the space they don't have to take them down...so they can stay up till e gets home from work, but best of all me and e aren't stepping on random blocks and hoping around in pain...or knocking them over.

there is definitely something about the kitchen that makes it a great place for the family to congregate. i suggest incorporating a family learning area in or around your kitchen if you have the space.

paz,

ki

* everything is about the same...a year later...the only difference is that the seatee is now in me and e's bedroom...which i'm loving...and well out stove gave out in the middle of easter dinner so that's been re-placed by a silver and black newer model (wish they had it in white)...it changes the clean look of the kitchen a bit...otherwise...everything is about exactly the same...oh and there is the bird now too...

thinking...about every woman.

am i the only one who struggles with time?

i'm so enjoying homeschooling the kids...being with them...teaching them...listening to them...learning with them...my goodness it just keeps getting better with time...

it also keeps growing in its time demands..

at the end of a long 4-6 hour schooling session...my brain is gooey...just a mush of cells and synapses that are just begging to unwind...to not think...to not do. i'm drained and even doing the things i love to do is hard...

it amazes me how much love, attention, energy it takes to be present and give my little people a good education...but equally amazing is how much i get back.

for example, last friday i had a weak moment...and shed many tears over what seemed to be so pressing at the time: trying to be everything for everybody in my life...my little lady and guy saw me crying and before i could clean up my snot face...and stop sobbing to my wonderful e about how unappreciated i was feeling by "everyone else" she had brought me the pink carebear she "gave me," (to sleep with when her and her brother grew out of the family bed), some tissue and a blanket. the little guy...a picture...which she followed up with a picture too...both reading "i love you."

no matter what the world thinks about "housewives" and "homeschooling" moms...and sahm's...i'm convinced i'm raising some wonderful, sensitive, thoughtful...intelligent...smart...beautifully spirited humans.

i don't have the time...i'm tired and drained at the end of each day...i've set aside finishing my degree until they are a little more independent in their studies...i don't get the time to myself...to create as much as i'd like...

but i'm a bounty of love these days...they give me so much...its in-explicable...truly.

i'm so thankful for this here life...

i'm making a note to myself...

its okay that i can't do everything, be everywhere....or be everywoman to everyone...because in the end...i'm the world to e...yael...and michael...

and i want the rest of you wonderful mothers...daughters...sisters...wives...friends...teachers...to consciously tell yourself the same thing...

in fact...can we all just put our voices together and sing a song for all those women out there who are "everywoman"

"i'm everywoman....i'm everywoman....i'm everywoman"

it doesn't matter if your childless...or with plenty...there are scores and scores of women who are wonderfully doing it....i salute you all...i send you droves of love and support...and to the wonderful men who support and nurture....you are equally amazing...

peace....ki

cobwebs and paint...

hey there everybody *hears echo*

i'm dusting off the cobwebs today, and think i'm going to try and come around...and began blogging again.

i wish i could concoct some elaborate and magical story to share as to why i've been so out of the blogging loop...but in all honesty its something really really simple...yet entirely complicated:

life.

as a homemaker and homeschooler...yada yada yada...my time has been really limited...i've been pulled and stretched thin...and the one thing that got eaten up is my personal time. time for ki...when i had time...i mostly slept...mentally and physically tired from the day.

maybe i'm just now catching up on all the sleep deprived nights i gave into the little guy...who didn't start sleeping through the night...until he was almost three...who knows...i'm just now re-learning to sleep through the night myself...a year and a half later.

so that means these days...around 9 pm...i'm sleep...i'm up at 7 am and trying to find some "me time" which meant...i vowed to not turn on the comp. (unless to twitter...or just twitter from my phone) and spend some time on the artist in me.

so there you have it...nothing more than life...creeping up on me.

in other news:

i'm up at bat again...and planning a solo show for august of this year.. who knows what the title will be thus far...i surely don't...but i do know that its going to be an interesting foray into creating for me.

this time up...i'm not using cloth as my medium...i'm turning back to my old friend...lover...wood and acrylic....with some mediums showing up as support.

i've found myself missing and downright out yearning to get a paint brush in my hands again (on a regular basis) and grew tired of felling the envious green tint that seems to come over me when i see my artist friends work...

i miss being...me. being an artist...painting and such.

so i'm back up in the saddle...going at it again with wood, acrylics, pigments...and all types of acrylic mediums...

what's new this time also is that i'm feeling a bit tired of looking at "figurative" work...my eyes find themselves bored after a few seconds of taking in work that "looks like something." so i'm making a leap of faith...and jumping into abstract art.

i want feeling...and i don't want to tell my audience what to see...i'm looking for an experience with my wood, brush and paint...

abstract painting is so much more difficult than figurative work...with figurative work...you know what will come out at the end...you have a sort of guide a road map...with abstract work...at least what i'm interested in doing...your just along for the journey...along for the ride...waiting to see what emotions, thoughts, experiences will come of wood and paint.

i'm trying not to go too much into detail here...so i'm'a just stop here...i've not experienced this form of creating enough to really be able to relay an experience...but i will leave you with some work...what's currently on my easel (a new one i might add)...

almost, just about done...

detail:

left side detail

bottom left, detail

more detail...center

i'm a baby at this new "style" of creating...so i'm enjoying the learning experience. this piece really doesn't have a title, besides number 1. i think i'm steering clear of titles too. 

and lastly,

in other news #2:

i'm going to start vblogging...i've got some videos that need to be edited and put together...and i'm hoping that school won't go too long today and i'll get working and get them up this afternoon/evening.

my first vblog is about the studio re-do that i did for the beginning of the year...it was pretty exciting and came out really wonderful...

i'll have pictures to share with that post too...so stay tuned!

i'm thinking that vblogs will be maybe a bit easier for me to do when i get busy instead of typing...i talk a lot...

but i'm also thinking i want to tape me working...on bags, art...etc. and hopefully do some tutorials and such...

okay...i'm off to feed lunch to the kids and start schooling for the day...they are ending their first semester this week! yay! 

i'm sure i'll have waay more to share later...(like the little lady's b-day...she turned six, sunday!)

be creative!

paz....

ki

interrupting christmas...for some studio talk and a little peak in

i'm getting a little behind on my holiday blogging...i'm sure you all have noticed that..but nevertheless, i have something else for you. *more christmas stuff coming soon!

i'm interrupting christmas for a little studio peak in..

in the midst of experimenting last saturday morning...

i'm not sure if i've shared it or not but...i've been pretty obsessed with africa the better part of this year. i was a while ago...but like all inspirations that ebb and flow...i spent a little while being inspired by other things...(hearts). its not that my love affair with africa left...it just went dormant because of love...

my recent paintings (still in progress...geez!) have been my way going back and re-discovering my african passion...and just coupling it with mexican influences...and kiki influneces (hearts, skys and clouds)...who knows where it will take me (in my paintings) i'm just along for the ride.

however..

i thought i'd share where its taking me in "design." meaning how i'm interpreting it into my handbags.

a week ago today, i found myself again laying in bed at some obscene time of morning..listening to a combination of cnn and e's snooring (and myself yelling at him to "turn over")...i was laying there dreaming of my future and the things i want to do...one of which is create more african (and mexican) inspired handbags...and also this yearning i have to paint. my goodness...i feel like burke in "grey's anatomy" when his hand was shaking before and during surgeries...except our shaky reasons are different. mines is a yearning...

anyway...i was lying there...thinking:

"i'm shaking to paint...yet i want to continue making these bags..." there has to be a solution!

yeap there was...i had to find, discover the right paint for leather...cause all my test samples were not taking me too far. i couldn't spend all this time painting beautiful things only to have them crack, or flake...etc.

well...i discovered a marvelous company that has leather paint...and lucky oh lucky for me they are local. i called them up...and yeah i could drive down there...and choose my paints straight from the factory.

*insert picture of me...jumping for joy...

i woke the kids up...slapped together a quick healthy breakfast...promised them kid's cuisine if they behaved...and informed them we are on a adventure! which i would somehow manage to incorporate some schooling...oh and i also had to promise donuts!

it took us an hour to drive there (the kids were excellent and good company)... boy was i in *heaven* lots of paints...lots of help...lots of hanging around the factory..meeting the chemist...his wife giving me leather painting tips for at least 2 hours...hand picking colors off the shelves...and the kids getting lots of love...they had happy meal toys for the kids, bags of skittles...and lots of hugs for them when we left.

some of the colors i came home with...

its a family own business...and they treated us swell!

unfortunately, i got home...and by the evening with all my excitement came some serious artist block.

urgh...i decided to take the night off...and saturday morning..woke up early...and got to work in my studio...

eventually, i worked through my block...and found myself creating this...

a little experiment...playing with leather..combining a few different techniques..

thank goodness for my anita baker extensive library...because that coupled with the sunlight, the quietness of the house...lead me to break through my block.

that little experiment...lead me to creating this:

half of a bag...on my inspiration board...

it's all leather, and completely 100% hand painted...the colors are rich and vibrant...it has quite the pop and the ethnic feel i was wanting to capture...i'm utterly happy, satisfied and inspired to keep going...

i find that life and creating is always taking me on adventures...through blocks, discoveries, and re-discoveries...learning different techniques...and a host of other things.

i'm a life learner...a bit of a scientist when it comes to art.

i observe, experiment...draw conclusions...ask questions...and then repeat. i think i'll call myself an

art scientist.

really, i am. i was talking to nina yesterday (like every other day in my life almost) and i told her i was no longer going to fight against and give myself these weird titles like the "add crafter."

what for? because i'm curious...because i'm fearless. because i like to learn, experiment and explore new avenues of creative expression...

i'm not a crafter...i'm an artist (who can get crafty). i'm accepting it...owning it...and being it.

i'm an artist with a scientific approach...

...i'm off to work in my lab...!

paz y creativity,

-ki

*homeschooling note, the kids were wonderful (for the most part)...we did end up incorporating some school...they did math problems on their leapsters the whole way there...and back (until the little guy fell asleep).i quizzed them on spelling their sight words also. they got to tour around the factory...watch how the fork lifters work, and some other machinery. they looked at color samples and helped me choose colors (which i used as an opportunity to teach them about complementary colors)..they practiced telling time on a real (not digital) clock...but most of all they got to interact with adults, others and get some real life experience. one of the things i love most about homeschooling...getting the opportunity to get them out and experiencing the world, people and different situations...had they not been homeschooled...they would not have gotten this experience...which they loved. not to mention they got a chance to practice their manners....i'm big on manners.

and yes, they got their kid's cuisine...and donuts (though they didn't care about the donuts...and didn't eat them for a couple of days)...its all about the kid's cuisine right now in my house! even though i take out most of the "junk stuff" and supplement it with healthy stuff...i think its the box and packaging...the idea that its just for them...