tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190416842009-12-09T17:49:22.962-05:00You'll find a little bit about homeschooling/unschooling, family, gardening, raising chickens, nature, and libertarian issues here so hold on!Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.comBlogger957125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-61559207100078825062009-12-09T10:12:00.001-05:002009-12-09T10:14:06.755-05:00

I enjoyed this one.

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-28245466747507614772009-12-03T08:53:00.002-05:002009-12-03T08:57:38.746-05:00

My friend Laura is starting the East Tennessee Unschooled Summer Camp!!! Here is some basic information:ETUSC is a 6 night summer camp for 13-18 year old unschoolers. There will be activities such as sandcasting, soapstone and plaster & vermiculite carving, round table talks, camp and camper run workshops, jam sessions, bonfires, swimming, rock climbing, kayaking, counselor mentoring, dancing

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-80609450174335790632009-12-01T15:34:00.001-05:002009-12-01T15:38:44.074-05:00

The LayersBy Stanley KunitzI have walked through many lives,some of them my own,and I am not who I was,though some principle of beingabides, from which I struggle not to stray.When I look behind,as I am compelled to lookbefore I can gather strengthto proceed on my journey,I see the milestones dwindlingtoward the horizonand the slow fires trailingfrom the abandoned camp-sites,over which scavenger

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-85419558642247054262009-12-01T10:53:00.001-05:002009-12-01T10:55:19.888-05:00

Brute force, no matter how strongly applied, can never subdue the basic human desire for freedom and dignity. It is not enough, as communist systems have assumed, merely to provide people with food, shelter and clothing. Human nature needs to breathe the precious air of liberty. - His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-10040458066938024222009-11-21T12:00:00.002-05:002009-11-21T12:06:01.683-05:00

I'm grabbing this from Frank: singularity: (Meme)mento mori.Choose the sixth picture from the sixth picture folder on your computer and post it.That's all there is to this one!This is of my niece when my brother and his family came to visit in April. She's in Emily's room, wearing the skirt of a dress I had made for Emily when she was about this age.

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-29746808564231157242009-11-20T08:23:00.001-05:002009-11-20T08:24:22.199-05:00

Shamelessly promoting my brother's product: Mystery Box Kit, which is being sold by Maker Shed and also through Think Geek.

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-48235147830074309252009-11-07T07:36:00.003-05:002009-11-07T07:38:11.431-05:00

We went to Roan Mtn., TN, again this year for the Autodidactic Radical Gathering of Homeschoolers. :) Cool name, eh? Here are most of the pictures I took while there. Some video may be forthcoming as well.ARGH

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-4111280120710648032009-11-04T17:18:00.001-05:002009-11-04T17:19:49.540-05:00

I'm forwarding this information that I just heard about.The Open Hands organization has created the Katherine Russell fund for the benefit of the Russell Family. What this means is that people may write a check to Open Hands (a not-for-profit organization), writing the "Katherine Russell fund" in the memo line of the check. The organization collects the funds and remits them to the Russell

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-29306326017994723842009-10-29T15:04:00.001-04:002009-10-29T15:08:26.830-04:00

I wanted to pass on more information about what's going to be going on at the Russells' farm now:Howdy folks,I have an update on the Russell's current situation. BrianWalden has taken on the job of organizing the needs at the farm . Wetook inventory this morning and there are a lot of animals to feed.Current tally is 60 sheep, 14 goats, 80 cows (4 milking now 15 due todrop calves soon), and the

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-8444729770978236112009-10-29T14:46:00.004-04:002009-10-29T15:04:07.029-04:00

VICFA (Virginia Independent Consumers and Farmers Association) has a letter to members and visitors on its homepage about Kathryn. I'm copying it below:Dear VICFA Member,We have lost a vital member of our food community. Kathryn Russell was tragically killed yesterday, October 22, 2009, in a traffic accident. Kathryn was one of the founding members of VICFA and has worked tirelessly for the whole

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-76550214538271569872009-10-28T10:10:00.004-04:002009-10-28T10:17:04.949-04:00

I am posting this to my blog in hopes of reaching people who have not heard of this tragedy in our community already. The memorial service was yesterday, and the eulogy will be posted by CarrollAnn soon.*****************Dear Friends,For those who have not heard the sad news, Kathryn Russell was killedin a car accident on Thursday evening [Oct 22]. I know she will be sorelymissed by many and for

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-58215455282690540132009-10-21T16:19:00.005-04:002009-10-21T16:24:10.066-04:00

The following is a really funny story from Eddie's childhood. He's taking classes at PVCC, and this was an assignment for his English class--the assigned essay was to be a narration of a childhood event or memory. He has so many to choose from . . . but he did finally pick this one. I enjoyed it, the kids enjoyed it, the professor enjoyed it. I hope you will too. I have his permission to reprint

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-38068101978117756972009-10-13T09:21:00.005-04:002009-10-13T09:31:18.104-04:00

It's a Fork, It's a Spoon, It's a . . . Weapon? from the NYT. So a 6 year-old was suspended for 45 days for bringing to school a combo camping knife/fork/spoon he got in Cub Scouts. He wanted to use it a lunch. Hmmm.For Zachary, it is not school violence that has left him reluctant to return to classes.“I just think the other kids may tease me for being in trouble,” he said, pausing before adding

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-48162149478950623492009-10-07T08:39:00.000-04:002009-10-07T08:41:07.040-04:00

Faith is a cop-out. If the only way you can accept an assertion is by faith, then you are conceding that it can’t be taken on its own merits. - Dan Barker

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-15615056025925491372009-10-02T08:16:00.002-04:002009-10-02T08:19:53.367-04:00

The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolerswww.VaHomeschoolers.org Your Resource. Your Voice. Your Association.Introduction to Homeschooling - Northern VirginiaTuesday, October 6, 6:30-8:30pm"Introduction to Homeschooling"VaHomeschoolers Board member Stephanie Elms will be the guest speaker at the October meeting for the Holistic Moms Network of Northern Virginia in Fairfax, Virginia on October 6,

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-46971534132577681912009-09-14T11:16:00.004-04:002009-09-14T11:24:01.053-04:00

As long as there is a lack of the inner discipline that brings calmness of mind, no matter what external facilities or conditions you have, they will never give you the feeling of joy and happiness that you are seeking. On the other hand, if you possess this inner quality of calmness of mind, a degree of stability within, then even if you lack various external facilities that you would normally

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-30955133775872646432009-09-11T12:20:00.004-04:002009-09-11T12:25:25.580-04:00

I have not been blogging very much lately--though I have posted some things over at the CasaInCostruzione blog, because we're remodeling a full bathroom. But I got this email from Ray at Horrible Books and wanted to let my one reader know about it, whoever you are. :)***********************Just an FYI that we'll be doing a September 27, 2009 Horrible Books Order for Late-October Delivery, with

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-45170818254816603242009-09-02T15:33:00.002-04:002009-09-02T15:36:07.616-04:00

This list is from OnlineBestColleges.com's blog.Unschooling is an alternative education system that supports natural, interest-led learning at home. Whether you want to learn more about unschooling for your own research or child rearing projects, network with other parents who unschool their kids, or adopt some of the alternative learning philosophies to augment your own formal education, check

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-87179867130113480712009-08-28T18:45:00.004-04:002009-08-28T18:48:59.603-04:00

Last week the kids and I and 3 other families took a hike to Canyon Run Falls. I've uploaded the pictures to my Facebook page. Here is the link to the album.

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-35680611735109361612009-08-28T18:23:00.001-04:002009-08-28T18:23:53.826-04:00

From Jeff's blog:Free Boys: A Dad's Journey Through Parenting, Learning and Partnering: "Voice and Tone"Just a snippet:Let’s start with the presumption that, in general and barring severe circumstances like being chased by a tornado or something, we as unschooling parents are trying treat our children and each other in ways that make obvious our love, compassion, and genuine interest for each

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-84776273802180180772009-08-28T10:45:00.002-04:002009-08-28T10:48:40.499-04:00

Dutch Sailor Girl Put Under CareA Dutch court has put a 13-year-old girl under state care for two months, stalling her bid to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.The decision by three Utrecht judges means Laura Dekker's parents, who support her plans, temporarily lose the right to make decisions about her. [ . . . ]Miss Dekker was reportedly born on a yacht off the coast of

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-18123273673441480212009-08-14T09:50:00.002-04:002009-08-14T09:55:46.495-04:00

The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolerswww.VaHomeschoolers.orgYour Resource. Your Voice. Your Association.This Just In! 2010 VaHomeschoolers Conference and Resource FairVaHomeschoolers is pleased to announce the 2010 Conference and Resource Fair set for March 12-13 at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen (located about 12 miles north of Richmond). Planning is underway and the 2010 Conference

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-29412160537051458602009-08-13T12:46:00.003-04:002009-08-13T12:50:38.990-04:00

I saw a great bumper sticker yesterday at Harris Teeter. It said:Ok, joke's over.Bring back the Contsitution!I think this is where they got it from.I like this one too:

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-31285371860073193272009-08-07T11:18:00.002-04:002009-08-07T11:22:25.881-04:00

This sounds like a great idea! From Rule .303: Deer Hunting for Locavores and Foodies:"I have noticed over the last few years that there are a lot of people out there who did not grow up hunting or shooting, but have expressed some interest in taking up deer hunting. After all, it is ethically the next best thing to being a vegetarian. 'Slow food' proponents and locavores are both groups of

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041684.post-75868185737570206972009-08-06T09:14:00.004-04:002009-08-06T09:16:26.142-04:00

Snake biteHe got bit on July 21st and the wound wouldn't quite heal. He felt like there was something hard in the cut. And sure enough, on Aug 5th he got this tiny tooth out of the cut. Wow! That's what happens when you don't wear gloves to remove the snake from your chicken coop.

Silviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258194238677454294silviapegazzani@gmail.com0