the finchi

We are eclectic homeschoolers. What did you say? You homeschool? Yes, I know I mention it in my profile, but I don't often post about it. We have been homeschooling for going on 6 years now--and it's just as normal and natural part of my everyday life as say......using the restroom. You don't want a bunch of stories about me in the ladies loo, now do you? Actually, every day I get to teach my kids something new, and have them teach me something new, and each savory, exciting discovery we make together feels like such a blessing. I know, I know---homeschooling isn't for everyone. And I certainly don't recommend it for everyone. And there are lots of good mommies out there who have kid-o's in public school (like just about all of my friends!). But if and when you are ready to homeschool, you just know. Your children tell you. Your life tells you. Your heart tells you. (Or in our case,your 4 year old reading perfectly out of the Calvin and Hobbes book when you have never given him a reading lesson in his life tells you.)


The eclectic part comes in with our approach to curriculum. First off, we're members of an online charter school. I hate that we have to play by their rules, for the most part, and take all the stupid standardized tests that require 98% memorization and regurgitation (and if you are a standardized test writer now being offended, I mean the wonderful tests that make sure no child is left behind..)--but the school, via my tax dollars, is paying me. And it can be costly to school at home. They are even covering the internet costs associated with writing this sentence at this very moment. So I can't complain....too much.


We also do Thomas Jefferson Education. It stresses reading and analyzing classics. A LOT of classics. I'll have to post the list sometime--or you can google it. Or I'll just give it to you now. (*this is only the tip of the iceberg--there are hundreds of books involved. The only other fairly complete list I could find is here--all the beginning, intermediate and advanced classics listed on the left hand side.) We are slowly plowing our way through all of these.....and admittedly loving it. It doesn't give me a lot of time for reading stuff I'd like to (like the Eclipse series), but one day I'll be old and have all the time in the world to myself to read [and to gripe at my husband for no particular reason, and to get those tight curly perms all over my grayish-pink hair---but I'm totally off the subject now.]


In addition to old Tom, we follow Charlotte Mason. One of Miss Mason's big approaches to education was to be out in nature daily.......for a looooong time........she suggests 5-6 hours..........even in winter. AND NOW FOR YOUR FRIENDLY, ACCURATE IDAHO WEATHER FORECAST: Highs in the 20's here. Only patches of icy muck that use to be snow. Bleak gray sky. Sharp, cold blasts of wind. Not exactly beckoning for 5-6 hours of our time. But we try---

We decided that observing nature was every bit as good as being out in it. Right? (Right?!). So we installed a finch feeder. We actually did this back about June, but only ever got 1 or 2 nibblers. Our neighbors recently installed a much fancier bird feeder with all kinds of nuts and seeds in it. We watch daily as the squirrels chase all the birds out of it and claim the nutty, seedy loot for themselves. {Squirrel bullies!} Luckily, that feeder has made the finches aware of our feeder, and now we have little birdies of our very own to watch. I have been amazed at how many different breeds of finches there are. We get fat brown ones with black heads, tiny brown and white speckled ones, and--my favorite--ones with spots of red and yellow. We also have a puddle of water on top of our hot tub cover that has made a great birdbath. It's quite the hang out for all the swingin' , hot-tub lovin' neighborhood birds.

So, this whole long tangent of a post was all about these pictures:

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red finch! and oh look a sandal that's been on the back porch since August.....


these are the finches. Yes, I have discovered the correct plural of finch is not finch, nor finchi---but finches.


Finch feeder: $6.00. Bag of thistle seed that only finches (and not squirrels) eat: $8.00. Not having to spend 6 hours in the freezing cold with grumpy children and being OK with it: Priceless.