October 30, 2011 11:20 p.m.

Music is going very well here, and also very busily. There is a lot on our musical plates. 

Sweet Girl is involved in the Children’s Choristers group at our church.  Of course she had to miss an opportunity to sing with the group this evening because of a conflict with another activity … orchestra. 

Orchestra has been going well, and the children were in their first concert on October 9th. My issue with orchestra is that it essentially claims our Sundays (a big part of the reason for our being away from home and computer for extended periods of time on the weekends), but other than that, it is a wonderful activity. Sweet Girl is coming home from rehearsals and independently working out her orchestra music. She is even working through a book on how to play with vibrato, and making progress there. She is excited about the day when our violin teacher begins to want to work on vibrato with her and discovers that she can already do it!  But she won’t bring it up until the teacher does.

Chips has stepped up his practice time this year. He is now practicing over an hour a day, and approaching 1-1/2 hours. Despite what his teacher would want (minimum 2 hours) we really do not think this is necessary, and will not require that from him. I think he is making wonderful progress with about 75 minutes of practice a day, and intend to hold it there. Chips not only was selected for the first chair violin (concertmaster) position in his orchestra, but has also been a winner of their annual concerto competition. As such, he will have the opportunity to play his concerto with the senior level (i.e. high school) orchestra as accompaniment this year. We are elated over this! This, to us, is better than any state trophy would be.  The concerto is Haydn’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in G, 1st mvt. It is wonderful, happy music, and full of joy. I guess its mood reflects his feeling about being in the orchestra.  It has turned out to be more than we hoped for this year. For one, it has provided some very positive outcomes for Chips, who formerly would work all year practicing for certain state competitions (can you say “Federation”?) only to not have it work out very well come early May. Now he is having happy results that make him feel much better about what he can do.

Oh, and by the way, his teacher is just tickled over that concerto opportunity.  It is a big deal for her, too.

In addition, Chips has been asked to play with the string quartet during a morning service at our church in late November, and also to play the prelude (solo) for the evening service that same day.  He is working on Paganini’s Cantabile for that solo.  It is a gorgeous piece of music.

Sweet Girl is working on playing the Seitz Concerto No. 2, 3rd mvt. (better recognized as the first selection in Suzuki Book 4).  Both children are preparing for a solo recital on November 5th. 

Here, you can see that Sweet Girl was very attentive during her orchestra’s performance in the first concert of the season.  She looked so grown up.

Chips, as concertmaster, plays an A-natural for the orchestra to get tuned up.

Here he is amidst an exciting performance of music by Mussorgsky (“The Great Gate of Kiev” from Pictures at an Exhibition).

And here’s the handshake from the conductor.  A proud moment for Chips and his family!

 

Finally, Sweet Girl can be found each evening in our dining room working on all her music and on developing a natural sounding vibrato tone.

The next post will be about …. church.

October 30, 2011 10:49 p.m.

And my blog has become so neglected.

Thank you to my friends who have left comments to see how we are doing.  I have been wanting to respond but have had limited access to my own computer these days.  We are okay.  We just have a lot going on, and we are spending too little time actually at home.

Something about the month of October, when the weather finally grows pleasant around here, all the activities kick up and life gets so full of appointments and scheduled events.  I truly forget all about this every summer when things have slowed down for a while and I decide to sign up for new things.  Then those new things actually materialize.  And then I remember.

Let’s start by making categories, so I can remember everything I want to write about.  On category per post.  Let’s start with homeschooling, since it takes up more of my time than anything else.

Homeschooling

Our lives had some unexpected turns in the early Fall this year, and it has impacted our homeschool schedule.  My goal has always been to get a year of lessons done and out of the way by Thanksgiving, so that we can enjoy our “summer break” between then and New Year’s Day.  Every year, the end date creeps a bit closer to Christmas.  This year, it looks like Chips won’t be done until mid-December.  Self-Reliant Man has suggested that I just stop, anyway, at the beginning of December and finish up what’s left after the New Year.  But I hate to stop with just 5-10 lessons left, you know what I mean?  And then it slows down my beginning in 2012.  I am just particular that way, I guess. 

I have to say that Calvert has been keeping me so busy lately and I have been somewhat amazed at how long it has been taking to accomplish our lesson objectives for each day.  Part of this has been on account of our personal situation, however.  Ever since early September, it has been difficult for the children, and myself, to focus on the daily responsibilities.  We have had a hard time getting going in the mornings, and then the situation snowballs for the rest of the day.  Chips’ lesson day seems to grow very long, because once he gets done with his part, I have to go back and check his work.  This process often requires more than one iteration; he doesn’t always get it corrected in the second pass.  Also by this part of the day, I am having to do chores around the house or even cook dinner.  Or we have to get in the car and go to activities.  Also, I am finding that I need to read the history, geography, science, and/or literature assignments before discussing them with Chips, and it gets to be a bit much these days.  My reading concentration skills aren’t so good any more.  I am in the process of inquiring about Calvert Virtual Academy for 7th grade for Chips.  Yes, I know it cost more, but if it frees me up a little bit from some of the daily involvement, I am all for it.  However, having said that, I also want to know in advance if it will make my life more complicated.  If that is the case, I want no part of it. 

Responding flexibly to unexpected turns.  That’s what homeschooling is supposed to be about, right?  Being flexible and being able to handle life’s unexpected turns? 

On the encouraging side, Sweet Girl is getting so close to the end of Third Grade!  She only has about two weeks left to go.  She is getting more independent in her work, and does extremely well when her attitude is right.  In fact, she just got back her test 140 in the mail last week.  It was a perfect test, all 1’s, with not a single error.  She was very happy about that. 

As for me?  There are distractions at every turn.  I need to stay more focused.  Pray for that, please.

With the arrival of beautiful weather, Chips loves to do his work outside.  Being surrounded by the wonders of nature, however, does slow his progress a good bit.

But always, he has the happy company of his doggy, Beau.

Calvert 6th grade science involves a project building a weather station.  It began with the barometer.  We have been amazed at how responsive this barometer has been to changes in the weather.

The weather station gradually added a thermometer, wind vane, and a rain gauge.

The final addition to the weather station was an anemometer (the styrofoam cups on top).  And no, the weather station didn’t hold up too well to inclement weather.  But Chips surely had fun setting it up!

Sweet Girl decided to sew her own dress for her doll, entirely by herself.  She was very motivated and she made a nice little dress.  She made a pillow for her doll, too.

Next post will be about   …….. Music.

October 4, 2011 11:11 p.m.

Vacation report!  Although I have much to write about our 5 night vacation, I am so anxious to get photos up on my blog that I am simply going to post some of those with captions.  This place, Ocean Lakes, was terrific.  It is in Myrtle Beach and it has something for everyone.  Here are some of the best of the best.

Chips enjoyed the swimming pools ……

… and the Ocean itself.

We polished up our ping pong skills.

And proved beyond a doubt that Kindles work great at the beach.

The children still enjoy a swing break.

But they also love a good game room.  This one was incredible.

Looks like it’s Bingo Night at the retirement village!

And yes, it was.  Free bingo for everyone.

Guess who won the coverall game?  There I am with my prize winnings.

I practiced photographing the morning sunrise….

… and the beachside crosses.

We cruised the entire property together – too big to walk.

Everybody kept very busy in the sand and surf.

And we stopped to say “hi” to Sandy the Starfish.

Friday evening Fish Fry and Bingo Combo.   It was a lovely evening.

Sweet Girl practiced taking sunrise pictures, too.

Taken from the entrance to the dunes.  The blue van is how close we were to the beach.

And finally, a short stroll to see the various homes on the property.  We cannot recommend this place highly enough.