Author: amanda

amanda

2020-21 School Year–Week Thirty-One

Hymn of the Week–“Holy Spirit, the Dove Sent from Heaven” (Lutheran Service Book #502)

Fun things first…on Wednesday, we actually left the house for a little field trip when we visited the St. Louis Zoo for the first time in almost two years! The weather was not supposed to cooperate, and while it did pour on us at one point, most of the time we were there it was actually quite pleasant out!

As for the rest of the week…Turkey and Bunny completed their final calculus lesson, where they put many of the concepts they’ve learned this year together to solve some real-world problems. We took another look at WWI in American culture and geography. In advanced biology, they continued to learn about the respiratory system…the slide of lung tissue they looked at under the microscope was really cool! They submitted the topics for their final term paper…I’m looking forward to seeing what they have to say!

Ladybug used what she learned about the Pythagorean Theorem to solve problems using the distance formula, as well as the midpoint formula, in algebra. She learned about magnets in science. In writing, she wrote a review of a book (that happened to be written by her big sister!). Since she’s finished with literature studies for the year, she’s reading a favorite book from my childhood, Henry Reed’s Journey.

Chickadee worked on subtracting while rounding in math. In science, she learned about different kinds of beetles, including scarab beetles and fireflies. We started reading Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. In history, she and Ladybug read about the Chernobyl disaster and the fall of the USSR.

Three more weeks to go!

Shopping Globally

A byproduct of my foray into the world of retro dressing is that I am now shopping globally in a way I never could have imagined. When I first started buying 50s-style clothing, all of my purchases were from US-based companies (mostly Pinup Girl Clothing and Unique Vintage), even if some of the brands were international. But as I’ve built up my wardrobe, I’ve started shopping directly with some of those international companies (like Erstwilder), and have discovered some others (Splendette and Miss Candyfloss are favorites), along the way. Take this outfit for example…the dress is from a Swedish designer (but purchased from a store in Holland), the bangles, necklace, and brooch were all ordered from the UK, and the handbag, like many of my other brooches, was shipped from Australia! The idea of ordering from a company outside of the US used to be intimidating to me, but now it’s second nature (and a lot of times, the various businesses offer free shipping, so it’s not even any more expensive!).

I really like that I’m shopping around the world…it makes my already unique wardrobe feel a little more one-of-a-kind. I will say that it’s a little disconcerting that my wardrobe is more well-traveled than I am, though!

Tasty Tuesday–Breakfast for Dinner

We have always enjoyed having breakfast-for-dinner, and for the last year, I’ve tried to make it a regular item on the menu (once or twice a month), instead of just an occasional treat. But I definitely didn’t want to make the same meal over and over, so I’ve tried to expand our breakfast-for-dinner options to include things like omelettes, breakfast sandwiches, waffles, breakfast casserole, breakfast burritos, shakshuka, and French toast, in addition to the traditional bacon and eggs. I also often make smoothies to go with dinner, and that has been a huge hit…we’ve really enjoyed trying different fruit, juice, and yogurt combinations. One thing we haven’t had, though, is pancakes, which seems like a weird omission…I should probably work on that!

Spring in the Japanese Garden

I love every part of the Missouri Botanical Garden, but there is something extra special about the Japanese Garden. It is beautiful in every season, because it was so well-planned, but seeing all of the colors in the spring…I will never grow tired of it!

Sartorial Saturday–Floral Masks for Spring

Time for another look at this year’s hottest accessory…the mask! This time, I’m taking a look at some of my favorite floral-print masks for spring:

I really love these masks from Old Navy. I like the way they fit, I like that they have adjustable ear loops, and I love that there are so many colors and prints. If you had told me a year ago that I would have a preferred mask, and a whole bunch of variations of that favorite on top of it, I never would have believed you, but here we are…I like that I can still be fashionable and express myself even during a pandemic!

2020-21 School Year–Week Thirty

Hymn of the Week–“Jesus Christ is Risen Today” (Lutheran Service Book #457)

We actually went somewhere and did something! On Sunday, we visited Origami in the Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden. It’s a really cool exhibition, and we’re already looking forward to going back…it definitely fits in with our postponed-from-last-year Japan-themed summer school!

As for school…things are starting to wrap up. Turkey and Bunny finished the second-to-last chapter in their calculus text. They made it through the last chapter in their study of psychology. They’re still working on finishing up 1984. We started a chapter on the respiratory system in advanced biology.

Ladybug (and Moose, by coincidence), learned the Pythagorean Theorem in algebra. I think this is the first time all school year that their lessons actually lined up! She learned about electricity in science, and we got to make an electroscope that actually worked! She finished reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer…I gave her a few options of books she can read to finish out the school year since her official literature studies are done.

Chickadee worked on drawing lines of symmetry in math. She learned about antonyms in grammar. In science, she read about wasps and termites. We finished reading The Boxcar Children. She and Ladybug learned about conflicts between Iran and Iraq as well as between India and Pakistan in history.

I finally did the math, and now I know we only have four weeks of school left to go!

Chickadee Thursday

Chickadee really enjoyed the Origami in the Garden exhibition at the Missouri Botanical Garden…she especially liked these buffalo!

She also enjoyed sketching some of the installations:

I think we’re all looking forward to visiting the Garden and this exhibition again!