The Hectic Eclectic Family’s New Adventure

We have embarked on a new adventure, and I wasn’t sure if I should tell you about it or not.  It’s not a secret, it’s just that this is not really that sort of blog.  Since I tell you all about my antics, though, and since this is such a big part of our lives now, I’m not going to be able to NOT talk about it so here goes….

We’re homeschooling!  Well, err… sort of.  The program that we’re in is actually public school, at home.  Think of it like a hybrid – the support and resources of public school with the flexibility of homeschooling.  We have a designated curriculum, but I get to supplement as I see fit.  We’re assigned to a certified teacher for support and guidance, but I’m their learning coach.  The lesson plans are done for us, but we decide the schedule.

I won’t bore you with all the details, but we’re starting week three and we’re starting to settle in.  I’m excited about the possibilities that this holds for us – and still a little terrified about implementing it all, but that gets a little less each day.

I’ll keep you posted!

Jean

ps.  if you want more information about the program we’re in, check out Georgia Cyber Academy.

The squash bugs are mocking me…

They have now eaten every bit of squash and squash plant out there, and while I’m not really mourning the loss of the squash plants at this point, they have turned their attention to the other plants in the garden.

I would like to be able to do a second planting of some things without them being overrun, so I finally broke down and pulled out the sevin dust (seven dust?).  I marched resolutely to the garden, not proud that I was breaking my no pesticides rule, but determined to solve the squash bug problem one way or another.

I found several large groupings of bugs and murderously poured large amounts of the dust on their little buggy heads.  They, instead of following the script and politely keeling over, frolicked in the “snow” and laughed at me.

Then, it rained, and I thought any remaining chance I had at the dust actually doing its job was gone.  Two days later I went down there and I can still SMELL the stuff, but the squash bug population is thriving.

They’re down there mocking me right now.

O Squash, how I loath thee…

I’ve baked, fried, grilled, grated, chopped, peeled, dried, frozen squash until I don’t even wan to see squash anymore!

It’s seriously become like an episode of Iron Chef around here, with squash as the surprise ingredient.  I have squash in the fridge, squash on the counter, squash on the floor in a basket.  I can’t give it away because everyone I know is as sick of squash as we are.  I’ve hidden in chili, tossed it with pasta and put it on pizza.

We had a cookout with some friends and I made mixed veggies to put on the grill (with squash, of course).  Our friends brought pasta salad with chopped squash.  Then the camp guy requested a patty pan dressed for the grill.  WE HAD SQUASH ALL OVER THE PLACE!

So now, the beautiful lush green squash plants that I’ve been so in love with all summer, are looking bad.  You know something?

I couldn’t be happier.