Painting Studio and Selected Art School Year 2017-2018

Painting Studio: In Process
School Year 2017-2018
(I'll continue to add as the year goes by and find the paintings from the fall to download.) 

Agnes

I didn't get a finished photograph of this painting.  It was a Christmas gift for Grampy and she worked on it right up to the last minute!  Maybe when we go down again I'll be able to get a 'completed' photo.  It did turn out really nice.

After this oil painting of the sunset and mountains; Dd moved from using oils to watercolors in her Painting Studio class.

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SL Core 100 Week 8 March 4-10, 2018 "Festival" Contest

SL Core 100 Week 8  

March 4-10, 2018

Festival: Alto Sax Duet

(J.S.) Elder at Church Passed

Squirrel-Proof Feeder!

Hello, Friends!

It was a mix of spring and fresh snow to remind us we are in Michigan!  We saw Robins a few times this week; so that was definitely very encouraging!  The Sand-hill Cranes are flying overhead and we've seen a few around our home; paired up!  I love seeing those wonderfully big, gangly birds actually nesting in our "neighborhood." 

J.S., our  beloved Elder and Strings Group member passed away

When we went to our Strings Group on Thursday night; we found out a member of our group had fallen and was at the hospital.  It was totally unexpected to lose him this week.  You just never know the plans God has for us, and this was certainly an example of His Timing.  All our hearts are crushed.  He was the President of our board, an Elder, and a member of the Gideons for around fifty years.  He was a loving example of how Jesus wants us to share our hearts with each other like we are literally one family.  Our small little church won't be the same.

Festival:

Again this year, Dd and her friend Olivia played a duet with their Alto Saxes.  Minueto, by Haydn, was the piece they chose.  The scores range from 1-5; 1 being the best, and they scored "2."  It was nice getting to play and receive critique back from the judge.  They also got a medal for their performance. I was most pleased with Dd getting the experience of playing in front of someone. 

Piano Week:

It has been a long time since Dd had a big piano week. I really like it when she composes her own songs and figures them out, and then writes down the notes so she can play that song again later.  She is slowly growing in her piano skills; which is good since she had so many years off from piano lessons--from ages 6 to 12 years old off! It is great she could get back into music lessons and pick up with her enjoyment as our finances improved and opportunities became available.

Chickens:
Ms. Lemon has been found off the nest quite a few times this week.  Has she finally overcome her broodiness?  Even when I've been bringing her in my cooked concoctions she obviously doesn't need them as much.  Many of the Black Sex Link chickens are starting to look better; their new feathers are appearing! They sure did look awful unloved before!

Travels:
Dh will be flying out to Italy next week.  I think this is his third trip to Bologna, Italy (3 of 4 scheduled) for his company as they are having a special machine built by some amazing Italians.  Prayers appreciated for his trip.  He will be gone 8 days this trip; we would have gone with him but for some unknown reason the price of the airline tickets is 3x more than last year.  

Health:
Dd is doing better finally, but I am still on my last legs of winter and wish I could right this ship!  I guess I shouldn't refer to myself as a 'ship!' but.....

Academics from the week:

Bible:

Why Pray?  by John F. DeVries

Days 36-40

Church, Sunday School, Youth Program, and Strings Group

My Bible:
Our Ladies Sunday School class has been using Beth Moore's: Entrusted, A Study of 2 Timothy.  Boy, I am really, really loving it.  I've always wanted to get to know Paul better.  You know a little over a year ago, we were in Rome, Italy, looking at the supposed shackles that were put on Paul while he was imprisoned his last time.  Rome is such a bustling city I couldn't quite get the feel for Paul having been there; it has just changed so much.  But, he is someone I have always wanted to stop and focus on.  One thing I like about this bible study is that Beth has us jump all over the New Testament to hook up pieces of information to create a better understanding or picture in our brains of his life.  She really is making us see the big picture by doing more than just a study of 2 Timothy alone, the more we follow thoughts through various books the better we (I) am getting the picture of his life and heart.

Science:
Apologia Biology: Module 3

Writing:

IEW: Continuation B: Lesson 10: In Process

Math:

Saxon Geometry (through Grace Academy)

Lessons 75-78 

SL Literature:

Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison by Lois Lenski: Completed

SL History:

A History of US, Book 3: Ch.'s 15-26

Art Classes:

Painting Studio: 2:00 hours

Botany Class: 1:30 hours

Dd is really enjoying her art classes

Sewing:

This week Dd used one of her shirts as a guide to make a shirt out of material.  It turned out nice!

Cooking:
Dd made Egg Rolls from scratch this week.

Mind you, this is the "Squirrel Proof" new feeder Dh and Dd got me for a Christmas gift!

Music Lessons:

Violin: 30 minutes with Christie Wiersma--such a good fit!

Piano: 30 minutes with Wendy

Music Classes:

Intermediate Orchestra: Violin  1:30 hours

Intermediate Band: Alto Sax   1:30 hours

**Only 5 more "Band Days" of the Year!  This year we both are ready for a big break!**

Music Odds:

Strings Group: 1:30 hours: Ukulele

Lots of practice this week!

Agnes, always in interesting places!

Fun Reading:

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine

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SL Core 100 Week 7 Feb. 25 - Mar.3rd, 2018

SL Core 100 Week 7 

Feb. 25 - Mar. 3rd, 2018

Dd's chicken watercolor

Hello, Friends!

Dd's watercolor from this week

We had another preview of spring this week; although next week is set to back to winter again we sure did enjoy the sunshine.  It was very nice to see the sunshine again.  One of the things that have been hardest to get used to in Michigan is the number of cloudy days; only Seattle, Washington has more cloudy days in the U.S.  Whereas Indiana has abundant sunshine and a much warmer climate.  I'm finally noticing the spring sunsets this year and am enjoying the pastel colors tremendously.  The only other state, that I've lived in, that had better sunsets was Virginia--the Blue Ridge Mountain area had such beautiful sunsets.  

Festival Preparation:

Last Friday night Dd spent the night with her duet partner, Olivia, and so we had her over here this week.  We actually had Olivia, her sister, and Lexi---like they did last week.  I must not have been as motivating b/c the time dedicated to practicing wasn't very intense, they practiced, just not very long.  Next Saturday is the "Festival," where Dd and Olivia will perform their Alto Sax duet: Menuetto by Haydn.  

Opportunities to Learn:

 This is one area that Dd and I always have difficulty with--- I tell her she will never regret practicing too much, and yet that doesn't motivate her to practice any longer than she does.  It is the same with learning from her academics.  I always pray for her to 'take ownership' over her education, and to have a toolbox (her brain) with as many good tools as she can (learned skills), as she prepares for adulthood.  But, all my original parables and metaphors do not inspire her to dig deeper.   So, I just try to give her as many opportunities to learn and grow as I can and accept that it is her decision how to react to that---the best-known metaphor for this concept is the 'You can bring a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.'  I provide as much water, in as many ways as I can, and provide numerous opportunities for her as I can.  I have always provided as many things to make art (clay, paints, wire, fabric, papers, tapes, glues, wood, cardboard.....) and left her to do what she wanted with those materials.  Sort of like having bookshelves packed with good books; she can pick and chose what she is interested in, though the local library usually wins out!  I guess it is important to me to continue to share that we are not those over-achieving homeschoolers and that I really hope that what achievements we have aren't ones that make other hs'ers feel 'less-than.'  I honestly do NOT do Facebook for that very reason!!!  there are so much smoke-and-mirrors, those posts do not uplift me, nope! not at all! 

Dickens has fallen off this ledge repeatedly...

Sandhill Cranes: spring!
I love Sandhill Cranes and was so delighted that I heard them at least four mornings this week.  We also saw Red-Winged Blackbirds this week and thought I heard Robins this week too.  These are highlights of the year; sure signs of spring getting closer!  Not to mention the bulbs and hostas have green shoots coming up too!  Then, lastly, we left February behind and welcomed March in with open arms!



Chickens:
Our chickens had a pretty good week; they got to be outside a lot.  I'm sure they wished they could get out of the small run but I'm not going to let them out until I figure out how to enclose the top so birds can't fly in and eat them. 



 I'm still cooking eggs for Ms. Lemon and the other birds that are looking pitiful.  



I did figure out the problem with the two bare-backed Black Sex Link hens...Venus, another big beautiful Black S.L. likes to get up on the top rung with those pitiful girls on each side and then she picks at their feathers!!!!  At least now I know to get Venus away from those girls at night, and maybe they can grow their feathers back.  I hate to think of Venus doing that to them---seems like a slow torture to me! Yikes.  I'm trying to think up ideas on how to stop this from happening--maybe I should make them a little coat? Chelle--any suggestions?



Tree-down/Windstorm Sunday:



Sunday (Feb. 25) after church, we all got our work clothes on and chainsawed the big dead tree that had fallen during the stormy night.  

We had to use the truck to pull out one of the big trees that had fallen but got stuck on a spruce tree precariously.  It took about 20 tries, but we finally got it down.

The storm was so vicious it kept waking me up.




 I thought we would surely lose our power, but thankfully our lines stayed good.  



In the spring, the electric company came out to our street and cut down a lot of trees that were growing up under our lines.  



They spray painted a blue dot, for trim, or a blue "x" to cut down many trees on our property, but oddly they skipped our property and just did all the neighbors.  I was hesitant but actually glad that they were going to trim the trees that were growing around the lines, so I was a tad disappointed they skipped us.  We normally have very lazy Sunday afternoons, but since the tree fell across our driveway, and Dh has been working 6 days a week, we didn't have much choice.  It was nice to be outside, all three of us, enjoying each other's company.



Home: Dh is still having to work Saturdays and late each evening...prayers appreciated.  Dd's health is doing better, but I still have not rallied and am stubbornly not going to the doctor

Academics of the Week:





Bible:
Bible Study Sampler: pg's 39-43
Why Pray? by John F. DeVries: Day 31-35
Church, Sunday School, Youth Program, Volunteer at Olympians program

Even more than endless greens, the chickens miss their dirt baths the most.  As soon as I let them out they start scratching and making a hole to get into.

Math: 
Through Grace HS
Saxon Geometry: TEST, lesson 71-74, and class



Science: 
Apologia Biology: Module 3
Text: pg 198-222
Student Notebook: 7.2-7.16
We watched the DVD for Module 3: "Exploring Creation with Biology Second Edition Video Instruction DVD" 






Writing:
IEW: Lesson 9: Completed
Completed the DVD for Lesson 10, but Dd hasn't written the report yet.  Her first report was on Charles Dickens and this report will be on her hometown hero, Gus Grissom, the astronaut.  

Art:



Drawing - white on black drawing paper



Watercolor - lots of flowers this week





Art Classes: 
through Grace Academy at Homeschool Building



Painting Studio: 2:00 hours



Botany Art: 1:30 hours



She is *loving* these classes!  She has the same teacher for the back to back classes.  

Cooking:



Stir Fry 2x



Egg Salad, from 2 1/2 dozen eggs



History:
A History of US, Book 3: 
Preface-Ch. 5
(was scheduled to read through chapter 14, but didn't get there)



History Literature:
Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison- In Process
Foreward-chapter V
(also one chapter behind this week)



Music Classes:
Intermediate Orchestra: Violin: 1:30
Intermediate Band: Alto Sax 1:30



Music Lessons:
Piano Lesson with Wendy: 30 min
Piano Theory book this week

Violin Lesson with Christie: 30 min



Practice:
2:30 hours per instrument is the goal, and close to being met this week.  Olivia spent Friday night so they could work on their duet together.  They practiced Friday night and Saturday morning.

I've made a new drawing for the church's bulletin board, I used white chalk on brown utility paper.

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