tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37223627822025340002009-07-11T11:07:56.480-05:00This is a portfolio of some of our unschooling, a way for me to keep track of the skills and activities of our kids, relating their learning to formal-style subject areas.Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-79081527319201597372009-07-11T09:38:00.004-05:002009-07-11T11:07:56.494-05:00

Recently, an online acquaintance asked me how I went from what's called a "freethinker" background (what it designates is "religion-free") to born-again Christian. I answered the question here.Some freethinkers showed up, and some bombast ensued. It was an interesting study in human behaviour, in particular two things: something for which I'll coin the phrase "intellectual colonialism," and

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-74120894488103956492009-07-05T13:20:00.002-05:002009-07-05T13:25:06.550-05:00

This past week, the kids have hung over my shoulder and gotten their hands on things as I:Use CoolEdit to arrange and record a songUse WORDsearch to locate verses and scrapbook themMake a list of sci-fi short stories I'm working onGo to my Dad's for a hands-on lesson in traditional bricklayingPhotos and explanations to follow, whenever I get time. Sometimes I think we learn more in the summer.

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It all started with a Tiger Lily who was scared to fall asleep. So we read Philippians 4:6-8, and this calmed her. It lasted a few days before she needed to be reminded.So I thought perhaps if we handled and spent lots of time looking at the words, working with them, they might stick a little better. She is in progress with several pages on which she'll be able to make lists of things related to

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Found a page of spontaneous long multiplication on the table. I think the answer to the question had like 8 or 9 digits. I should have taken a picture. My kids do math without being ordered to? For the fun of it? This is a new phase of growth.Banana and the Spazz were comparing how many pushups they can do. (10 each, but 13yo Spazz does "man" pushups, and 11yo Banana does "girl" pushups.)"That's

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If you've ever wanted a quick glimpse across Canada, or if stunning photographs captivate you, or if you've never been captivated by a photograph and wonder what that's like...Go to Canadian photographer Ron Erwin's image gallery.HT: Beck from Frog and Toad, via Beck's Twitter

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-42917697092583613592009-06-11T15:49:00.003-05:002009-06-11T15:56:07.869-05:00

A neat post that resonates with my reasons for not assuming my own insanity and throwing in the towel. Fave quote:For the first five grades Mrs. G. focused on reading to her kids, having them read to her and learning the basics of elementary math. All other subjects like science and history were explored through good books or books on tape, good PBS shows, good magazines, good cooking, good yard

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-87935954948233363122009-05-25T20:14:00.001-05:002009-06-15T20:31:34.293-05:00

We had some drama last night, on our last night in the Bay area. I took the kids for a walk along a public shoreline in the nice, quiet, clean, respectable-looking area behind our hotel (yep, hotel, ouch--all camping was full for Memorial Day weekend) and as we crossed a street, Miss Banana suddenly started screaming and clutching her leg. I heard a crack right at the same time, and I wondered if

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-3252998563849918912009-05-24T00:00:00.003-05:002009-05-30T00:53:41.305-05:00

Before we left on this trip, Dave got in contact with some sailors via the internet and asked if we could possibly go out for a sail on the Bay. A very experienced instructor and one of his former students, an experienced racer, took us out in two boats. Here's a rough map of our course.View SF Bay in a larger mapAs we headed out, Mr. Boo flaked out in the cockpit to enjoy the ride. If you're not

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-37466116608732832022009-05-23T23:44:00.003-05:002009-05-29T23:59:21.070-05:00

hanging laundry in ChinatownWWII submarine at the Wharfwild sea lions draw crowds at Fisherman's Wharfclassic vehicles on display aboard the antique ferryF1 racer on display downtown

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-86649756129780692072009-05-23T23:04:00.007-05:002009-05-29T23:49:48.908-05:00

Of course, we looked at sailing stuff.historic s-v Balclutha among the educational ships on Hyde St. PierWe visited sailing vessel Balclutha, an iron ship that hauled salmon, timber, and also men to work in the northern canneries of Alaska.We watched a video explaining the difficult working conditions, particularly for contract labourers, and how one journalist's live-aboard reports roused public

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-9202273598359047332009-05-21T19:10:00.001-05:002009-05-29T08:05:16.254-05:00

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-62529809771619427582009-05-21T11:28:00.000-05:002009-05-29T08:04:46.649-05:00

Cypress trees with a lean from the prevailing winds off the seaCabrillo Point is a lighthouse that was once manned by three families to steer ships away from the treacherous rocks along the coast south of Mendocino. It reminded me in many ways of Prince Edward Island.In speaking to a historian at the lightkeeper's house, we discovered an interesting connection between these two opposite ends of

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-78211492459733691922009-05-21T03:26:00.012-05:002009-05-25T23:29:49.014-05:00

This is our launch site (er, campsite) at MacKerricher, strategically located across the road from the bathroom and next to the water tap. We got a chuckle out of the bear warnings after we discovered we were supposed to put our trash in everyday, ordinary non-bear-proof trash cans. At home, we go sailing at a park with bears. You can always tell by the trash cans.Me and the oldest on a rock at

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On our way out of the redwoods, we found the drive-through tree. Our oldest took the photo while Dave did the requisite drive-through.After that, we headed down some very winding roads to MacKerricher State Park. It's a location which really allows you to see the severity of the ocean, with strong breakers that cross and combine to pile up unpredictable, powerful waves.This was our first look at

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-36987385800258491062009-05-19T03:05:00.002-05:002009-05-25T03:20:44.882-05:00

My friend Grace lives in New Zealand. Since we're touring volcanoes, here's a recent visit of hers to a volcanic island!Learn how a volcano can be creepy, what a manuka tree looks like, and how to experience "a second wind." Also, most importantly, see the Auckland volcanic range!Grace is a writer, as am I. We both write Christian speculative fiction, and that's how we met. Her blog is here.

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-87738367912990435702009-05-19T00:30:00.006-05:002009-05-25T02:15:33.651-05:00

One last look at Mt. Shasta as we leave the Redding area.Lunch stop in Eureka. Me and the kids in front of the funny fisherman. Dave wandered the marina to look for a specific boat of the same make and model as ours--a real beautiful sample of customwork. Didn't find it. The kids did get to see a sea lion and talk to the fisherman who feeds him a bite or two every day. We camped one night in

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-57150009737260140612009-05-18T23:23:00.000-05:002009-05-25T01:06:50.329-05:00

Burney Falls is a beautiful location in MacArthur-Burney State Park. The 129-foot falls pour out of the volcanic rock. We spent some time relaxing and cooling off after a hot afternoon's drive.

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-32441152797623537702009-05-18T02:11:00.004-05:002009-05-23T02:28:27.675-05:00

As we made our way back from Mt. Lassen, driving through the idyllic, winding countryside, my eye chanced upon a small sign pointing to a backroad:UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEYRADIO ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORYI freaked and started pestering him to go check it out. Dave did not know what I was on about, but he humoured me with a drive into the hills.UC Berkeley's Radio Astronomy project is

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-63722264528154052712009-05-18T01:19:00.005-05:002009-05-23T02:10:48.079-05:00

This is Mt. Lassen. It's another volcano, the last one for us. We came up here more to look at the nearby lava tubes which someone told Dave about. We did take a look around the "devastated area" from the 1915 eruption, and got some educational-like info on different igneous rock types.One of Dave's online buddies told him about the lava tubes near Lassen, so we went hunting for them. It's

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-65268938003770450292009-05-14T23:38:00.000-05:002009-05-23T01:24:37.925-05:00

Behind the Falls He's Soooo Cute!(This one's for you, Auntie Dance) In Which Dave Takes On a Waterfall,and Tiger Lily Gets Her Wish

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-6028136405001836542009-05-14T22:58:00.000-05:002009-05-22T23:38:09.856-05:00

Silver Falls is a beautiful little park that one of Dave's uncles said is a must-see. It's true. We spent 2 nights in a 2-room cabin in the State Park, with microwave and fridge, for $35 per night. The back half contained a bunk bed and a double bed, and the front half held a small table and a fold-out couch. We highly recommend it. There are cabins with wheelchair access, and others with a large

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We toured the museum at the interpretive centre, where the Tiger Lily discovered a model of the magma tube of Mt. St. Helens. Then we drove up several miles of winding road, past broken, burnt stumps, giant fallen trees, and the clearly visible blast zone from the volcano's sideward eruption.Viewing the volcano from Johnston Ridge Observatory, 5 miles from the mountainNorth Fork of Toutle River,

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-74003910273449565772009-05-13T01:02:00.003-05:002009-05-13T01:25:05.629-05:00

In this video:Basalt strata along the Columbia RiverDave walking on block lavaDave pulling a chunk of andesite out of the Tielon River.

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-5713659003300232012009-05-12T21:50:00.007-05:002009-05-13T01:02:00.977-05:00

It was a day of visionary beauty. From fog-shrouded rainbows to sunswept, rugged hills, to an ethereal mountain forest laced with cascading waterfalls and blanketed in falling snow and mist. Azaleas in full bloom south of Seattle, wisteria budding on the arbor outside our motel.Hours in the car: 9Miles traveled: 840-somethingChildren who got into the backroom walk-in cooler in a convenience store

Zookeeper Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722362782202534000.post-16236572568608105602009-05-11T19:49:00.007-05:002009-05-11T20:51:00.436-05:00

Miles driven: 1380Hours on the road: just under 13Sodium sulphate mines sighted: 1 (homeschooling activity: scroll thru this list of Canadian Prairie mines, looking at the "Products" column to determine where we were)Wind turbines counted: 308Chapters of The Elusive Pimpernel read: 4World's Biggest Truck photos taken: at least a 1/2 dozen (Megan F., that's not a Titan, this is a Titan!)Mountain

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