Mon Oncle (Jacques Tati, 1958)

My children and I watched this charming film last night and we highly recommend it. This is no fast paced, overproduced, loud disneyesque film. Consisting mostly of sight gags and only a little dialogue ( in french, we turned on the subtitle feature) we were all captured and couldn't stop watching!

Directed by Jacques Tati who also stars as the main character, the socially inept Monsiuer Hulot. But who would want to be like the stuffy French upper crust as depicted in this story? Certainly not the young nephew of M. Hulot who finds his uncle and his uncle's world in the older, quainter parts of the city completely fascinating.

Not only is there wonderful physical comedy somewhat akin to Jerry Lewis, there is also a beautiful and compelling world. Just like his nephew I'd much rather run in the field behind M. Hulot's apartment building then walk in the stilted formal garden of the moderne technological wonder that is the nephew's home. The whole film is connected by a lyrical, whimsical musical score that leaves you with a warm feeling long after the film has ended.

Full of wonderful character depictions and funny sight gags this film was enjoyed by my children who are 8 and 10. But don't just listen to me...check it out for yourself!

The Great Backyard Bird Count

It's time again for the Great Backyard Bird Count. A joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audoban, the GBBC is an easy way to get your kids involved in nature study. My children and I have done it the last two years.

To be involved all you have to do is spend 15 minutes counting birds in your area February 13 - 16. Then you go to the GBBC website and log your totals. That's it! The website is full of great information, lesson plans, regional bird lists and this year a special certficate to print out to award to participants. It is a very praiseworthy thing. But do it quick! You only have Sunday and Monday left to count.

Happy Valentine's Day!

If you are a last minute person, as I often am, here are a load of printable Valentine's for you at The Long Thread courtesy of The Motherload.

Praiseworthy Book: Keeping House

I read a lot of books about home keeping and most are very practical books. They either teach you how to keep a home, how to keep it easier, how to have a schedule, how to...how to.... But I picked up a book at my library recently that was very different. The title was Keeping House: The Litany of Everyday Life.

This book is different in that instead of telling you how to keep house, it tells you why to keep house. Her argument is that keeping house is a way to love your family and to love God. In the process she debunks the currently held notion by many that keeping a house is a "waste of time" or mindless and unrewarding. I found her views to be challenging even to me, someone who already believes in the importance of a mother and homemaker. I found myself convicted and inspired by her thoughts. Check it out for yourself.

Snow!

With the excitement of December and Christmas over, now is a great time for a study on snow and snowflakes. Here are a number of resources for doing just that!

How to grow a borax snowflake.

Dave's snowflake page

Lots of good snow activities

We love these books:

And this for viewing:

Snain from Jeffrey Butler on Vimeo.

Jeff is a very talented videographer and I urge you to check out some of his other videos. Especially if your studying Viet Nam.

Blessed Aroma 2008

I'm humbled today to have been named one of the 10 "Most Joyful Among Us" blogs in the Top 100 Christian Blogs of 2008 by Internet Cafe Devotions. Thank you to those who nominated me. Please take some time to visit the list as there are some other great blogs mentioned. And we can always use more blogs, right?

Our Daily Bread: Daily Audio Bible

The bible exhorts us to be in God's word daily. But it can be a bit of a struggle to adopt that habit. As the Psalmist says:

You, God, prescribed the right way to live;
now you expect us to live it.
Oh, that my steps might be steady,
keeping to the course you set;
Then I'd never have any regrets
in comparing my life with your counsel.

Psalm 119:4-8

Happily I have found help in my struggle. The Daily Audio Bible.

The Daily Audio Bible provides a daily podcast of readings from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. The goal is to read (or listen) through the Bible in one year.

The voice behind these podcasts is Brian Hardin. Brian's voice is soothing and engaging. His comments before and after the readings let you know that he is just another guy trying to follow God's path. He exhorts and teaches all with a background of soothing music and sounds of nature. It really is an incredible listening experience! After the readings and Brian's comments there is a time of prayer followed by quiet music for personal prayer and meditation.

Since I have begun with DAB a curious thing has happened. I have found that my children love it too! My son often reminds me to "turn on Brian" in the morning. My children will grow quiet in that way that you know they are listening. Not only that but they will often ask me questions or make comments after. My son usually asks to pray with me for the requests. This part was unplanned and unexpected. A little butter with my bread.

A reading is also available specifically geared for children read by Brian's daughter. Versions are also available in Spanish and Hindi. Why not try it out yourself? You'll have no regrets.

The Cruel War

I have mentioned before that my children use the Amblesideonline curriculum in combination with other resources. One of the items on the curriculum that we haven't always been good at following through on is folk music study. So I'm playing around with different ways of sharing folk music with my kids. Several people have shared with me that they find youtube invaluable for this. So I offer here a youtube video that I particularly like of this semester's selection, "The Cruel War" a song that dates from the American Civil War.

The Yummyfun Kooking Series

Cooking is one of my children's all time favorite activites. Mine too truth be told! I recently ran across this trailer for a cooking show for kids that I know they will love. I haven't got my hands on one yet, but I thought you all would enjoy hearing about it. I hope to give you a full blown review soon!
Meanwhile check out the site here.

Inauguration Day Freebies

We have a wonderful opportunity right now to watch history happen right before our eyes. My children and I will be watching the Presidential Inauguration together tomorrow during school time. If you are planning to do the same here are some freebies from one of my favorite online stores, Currclick:

2009 Presidental Inauguration Lap & Note Pack by Gearforlearning.com This Lap & Note Pack is perfect for exploring the history behind the Inauguration of US Presidents.

This Pack includes Lap & Note Sheets and Suggested Answers as well as Inauguration Fact Sheets to help you and your student learn about this historic event.

Teacher Book Bag's American Presidential Inauguration 2009 by Teacher Book Bag

This is a gift to you from Teacher Book Bag commemorating the occasion. "We hope you and your families learn as much about past inaugurations, the inaugural process, its celebrations, and the American presidents. "

And after (or before) you watch the festivities head over to Krispy Kreme where they are giving away one doughnut to every customer in honor of the Inauguration!