2022-23 School Year–Week Seventeen

I think we’re still trying to get used to being back to our normal routine, because this was a weird week. We didn’t get quite as much done as I had planned, but that was partially because we had an unexpected field trip opportunity pop up. I was disappointed that the Missouri History Museum discontinued their “Homeschool Days,” something we really enjoyed pre-pandemic. They have replaced it with “History Exploration Days,” however, so we went to that for the first time today. The topic was architecture in the city of St. Louis and beyond, and we especially enjoyed the “Sizing Up the Skyline” workshop, which looked at how architecture has been (and is) judged. In general, though, I felt like even though it’s advertised as a family program for all ages, it skewed quite young, so I’m not sure we’ll go back for one of those events.

There was regular schoolwork this week, too, of course. Ladybug made conversions between the metric and imperial systems in algebra 2. She finished the chapter on stoichiometry in chemistry. We continued our discussion of To Kill a Mockingbird. In history, she read about Harsha’s defeat by the Chalukya dynasty. She also read some examples of experimental fiction in creative writing.

Chickadee learned how to determine if figures are similar or congruent in math. She learned about horses and ponies in science. We continued to read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and she really dislikes Edmund! In history, she read about Philip II of Macedon, and especially Alexander the Great (and added another item to her list of Seven Wonders of the Ancient World).

We still haven’t returned to themed cooking, but both Chickadee and Ladybug baked something this week. Chickadee helped me make a “Birthday Cookie Cake” from the My Little Pony Baking Book, and Ladybug and I made “Thick Frosted Speculoos Cookie Bars” according to a recipe I saw Molly Yeh make on Girl Meets Farm:

Maybe next week will feel a little more normal!

Tasty Tuesday–My Little Pony Baking Book

Chickadee and I have been enjoying baking recipes from the My Little Pony Baking Book she received for Christmas. We’ve made at least one recipe from each chapter of the book at this point…here’s a look at everything we’ve tried so far:

  • Strawberry Cupcakes
  • Celebration Cinnamon Rolls
  • Piñata Cupcakes
  • Pony Poke Cake
  • Chocolate Dream Pie
  • Cupcake Cones
  • Peanut Butter Candy Cookies
  • Out-of-this-World Brownies
  • Chaos Cookies
  • Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
  • Apple Fritter Bread
  • Purple Velvet Cake

The recipes in the book are delicious, but they’re also a lot of fun, and they all look amazing…we’re really looking forward to baking more of them!

Quote of the Day

These words from the song “The Art of the Dress” from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic really describe people pretty well!

“All we ever want is indecision. All we really like is what we know.”

The Relatability of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Over the summer, Chickadee, Bunny, and I watched through all nine seasons of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (plus the movie and the Christmas special). Other than a few episodes here and there, I hadn’t really seen the show before, and I have to admit, I was a little surprised at just how much I liked it (spoilers: it ended up on my revised “Top Five” favorite TV shows list!). I was also surprised at just how easy it was for each of us (including Ladybug, who didn’t watch all of the episodes with us, but has seen quite a bit of it) to relate to a specific character.

  • Bunny is Fluttershy, the pony who has a pet rabbit. She, like her favorite character, is gentle and sweet, and doesn’t care to be the center of attention…but if someone needs defending, she quickly finds her voice. Fluttershy’s Element of Harmony is kindness, and Bunny has pretty much the kindest spirit of anyone I know!
  • Ladybug is Applejack. She may have been the hardest of us to pin down, because like Twilight Sparkle, she loves books…but so do the rest of us! Like Applejack, she has a very down home, forthright personality, and a competitive and occasionally salty streak. Applejack’s Element of Harmony is honesty, which is a perfect fit, because Ladybug will always tell you what she’s thinking!
  • Chickadee is (no surprise here) Pinkie Pie. She is fun and zany and always up for anything…you just never know what’s going to happen next! Pinkie Pie’s Element of Harmony is laughter, and I can promise you, there is plenty of laughter when Chickadee is around!
  • And I, of course, am Rarity. She loves fashion and beauty, and can be kind of a drama queen, just like me. But her Element of Harmony is generosity, and I really hope that it can be said of me that I am generous, too.

Which My Little Pony character is most like you?

Quote of the Day

Discord’s response when Spike says: “I guess this can’t get any worse” is spot on, and good advice at the beginning of another week of school:

“As the Lord of Chaos, I’d advise against saying things like that.” John de Lancie as Q…I mean Discord in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

The Top Five–TV Shows (Revised)

My “Top Five” lists are never met to be set in stone, and in the six years since I first came up with a list of my five favorite TV shows, my favorites have changed a bit.

  • I Love Lucy–This has been my favorite TV show for a long time. I’ve watched every episode more times than I can count, and yet I never get sick of it. Are there elements of the show that haven’t aged well? Sure. But there are also funny jokes, moments of great physical comedy, fantastic guest stars, and outstanding fashion and interior design!
  • M*A*S*HScrubs used to appear on this list, but I basically swapped one medical show with another. The boys and I watch a few episodes every night before bed, and when we get to the end, we just start all over again, and we never grow tired of it. It’s a funny show, but it was also way ahead of its time in how it addressed social and political issues, and I’ve really come to appreciate that.
  • Downton Abbey–The glamour and intrigue of this show never grows old. I love watching the lives of those who live upstairs and those who live downstairs, and how those lives intersect. Plus, did I mention the glamour?
  • Rick Steves’ Europe–After planning an entire summer school around this show, I guess it should be no shock that it’s one of my favorites. I love asking “where should we go today?” and then turning on an episode. I always feel like I’m learning something when I watch, too, so it’s not just mindless TV!
  • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic–The show is a bit of a wild card, but Bunny, Chickadee, and I are just finishing watching through the run of the show, and I find that I really love it. It’s so relatable, and each one of us has a pony whom we particularly identify with. It may be a children’s show, but it’s a lot of fun for me as an adult to watch, and I think I’ll look back and cherish this time that my youngest daughter, oldest daughter, and I had so much fun together!

I thought I’d feel bad about kicking Friends off the list, but while I do still enjoy watching it from time to time, I’m not as into it as I once was. I do feel a little guilty about removing Deep Space Nine, though…it is still my favorite Star Trek show, however!

Quote of the Day–Sartorial Saturday

This response from Rarity in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, when asked by Rainbow Dash what she’s wearing is possibly the most relatable thing she’s ever said:

“My emotions, darling! Stress couture!” Tabitha St. Germain as Rarity in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic