But since I am posting about it, am I really taking the day off from posting? I do have a post about bread in the works. Maybe I will post it later today. Or maybe I really will take the day off. Life is a mystery like that.
Check out this article given by a finance professional about what he said to a roomful of highschool students:
http://www.growthstockwire.com/archive/2009/Nov/2009_Nov_24.asp
Snippet of what he said:
"Every year, I'm asked about how best to prepare for a career in finance," I started my speech.
"And for the past six years, I've suggested taking courses in statistics, human psychology, behavioral finance, and demographics. Today, however, I'm going to give you the same advice I've given my children, the same advice I've given my friends, the same advice for which people pay me thousands of dollars every year..."
I paused just long enough to notice the students were on the edge of their seats. The faculty, standing in the back of the room, stopped whispering to each other. The parents stopped texting on their Blackberries and sipping their lattes, anticipating the wisdom I was about to provide.
"If you want to be successful in life," I said, "learn to grow a frickin tomato."
*****
Loved it! Sound advice if I ever heard it.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
I hope you all have a great day with family and/or friends, eating yummy food and reflecting on what you are grateful for this year. Between baking a lemon meringue pie and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, before getting ready to go out to my dad's for the feast, I'll be thinking of all the things I am grateful for. My and my families health, moving to Ithaca and getting this house, the fact that the downturn in the economy has not affected us, the opportunity to start building our own little homestead and the time to take our time with it, my amazing girls and wonderful husband, the new friends I have made and the reconnection with old friends.
I am also grateful for all the dreams yet to come true, the answers to prayers not yet spoken, and for infinite possibilities made manifest in the perfect way at the perfect time.
Life is good. Enjoy it and give thanks. What are you grateful for?
On Monday, the girls and I went out to the ol' homestead (aka my Dad's) for a little canning session. I had been saving up the beets we got from our CSA and my stepmom had a bunch of beets they had grown ready to go. So we made pickled beets. There were the regular old red beets and there were golden beets and striped beets, too.
A had little interest in getting her hands dirty, but she hung out in the kitchen with us and watched the whole process.
The first batch out of the canner! While the second batch was being processed, we walked up to the pond:
I love reflections. They almost seem more real than the real trees.
E had fun with cattails.
Blowing in the wind. It was a lovely day, not very November-ish. Can't wait to taste those beets!Saw this on Sandra Dodd's blog. Go to the sixth folder in your pictures on your computer and pick the sixth picture. Here is mine:
This is from our house hunting trip out to Las Vegas in June of 2003. A was 4 and E was 2 and we stayed in the Luxor Casino. Picture was taken with my first digital camera with a whopping 2.1 mega pixels, so clicking on it doesn't help much. But you can take my word for it, the kiddos were pretty darn cute! Especially E, with her toy horse that she carried around everywhere.
What is it about unschoolers being so cool? I got to hang with some new friends yesterday, some I had met last year at Live and Learn briefly, and some we met just then, mixed in with friends in our local group. I don't know if other people have this experience, but every time I get to meet some unschoolers, I feel like my cup runneth over. Instant connection. Total acceptance. Fun!
Maybe it is the peace of being around other people who you know "get it" about respectful parenting. No yelling, shaming, or controlling to suffer through. Maybe it is the sense of going with the flow and following the path of fun and comfort. The lack of "have to" and "should" and "because I said so". The genuine regard for the kids and their needs, the open minds about what is good and okay. So refreshing.
I don't think I can adequately explain this to those who are not on the unschooling path. I hate to just say, "You don't know what you are missing" but.... *Sigh*
All I know is that when I get to spend some time with other unschoolers, I never come away from the experience wishing I had said this or done that. I feel accepted, understood, known. It feels so good. I'm not the freak in the room who disagrees with most of what is said, but can't speak up because she knows she is alone. And they would not understand, even if I tried.
I'm grateful for my unschooling friends. I'm grateful for the internet that allows me to hook up with unschoolers from across the state and arrange meetings with strangers, or I should say "friends I have not met yet". I'm grateful for unschooling. Period.
Just a quick photo, since it is Sunday and C is home and I am needing a break! A at the Ithaca falls. We have many waterfalls here to see and enjoy, but these are the most impressive, I think.
The only difference between joyful moments and others... is you.
The Universe
I love this one. Remember that kid who could go from shrieking to giggling in ten seconds flat? Well, lately she seems to have forgotten that skill. And, of course, me reminding her of the above does no good. No good at all. Makes me realize how seductive this life of duality, this illusion, really is. I guess that is why most spiritual practices are called just that, practice. You have to continually remind yourself of the Truth. Because of that I really enjoy the Notes from the Universe emails I get (click link above). Everyone needs a good smack on the head once in a while.
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