Free Reads

We really have been enjoying the lazy, hazy days of summer this June.  Having finished up our kindergarten schedule just before vacation, we have decided to have a real break from homeschooling and enjoy the sun.

We use a curriculum based on Charlotte Mason and have really enjoyed it this year.  The philosophy suits us perfectly and I am super excited to start Year 1 in the fall.  We've really been focusing on nature study this year and it has been a time of immense growth for all of us. 

Our eyes are open to finding new discoveries and wondering how and why and what the purpose is...

The girls love finding "e-ven-dence" of animal tracks and budding flowers, fiddleheads, and bird songs.  We take pictures, sketch drawings, and look up new species in the field guides. 

And recently we checked out a bunch of books from the library and took them out on the picnic blanket.  All but one became instant favorites and will probably end up in my Amazon shopping cart.

Among the favorites I'd like to share with you:

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey

Ox-Cart Man by Barbara Cooney
Stone Soup and other folk tale retellings by Marcia Brown
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney (CM idea of duty in bringing beauty to the world)
Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran

Brer Rabbit books by Joel Chandler Harris
The Tale of Three Trees by Tim Jonke
A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson

A good collection including classic stories and folktales such as The Little Red Hen, The Gingerbread Man, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Billy Goats Gruff.

I've also really enjoyed making and finishing Henry's quilt.  It is the pattern Coming Soon by Camille Roskelley.  Her pattern was for a crib size quilt so I had to break out the calculator to make this into a twin size (60 x 90).  It was very rewarding and also a good lesson for my oldest who is learning why it's important to learn how to do math.  She really likes to pretend she's buying fabric and measuring it for her quilts so we try to sneak in math as much as possible.

It's probably one of my most favorite quilts I've ever made.  I doubled up on the blocks and made enough for my son so that he can have a similar version of this someday.  The colors are so perfect.

So pick out your favorite quilt, grab some wonderful books, and laze around this summer.  Enjoy the days the Lord has made for you!