Lifestyle of Learning 2016 Edition: Volume Twenty-Five

November 7 - 12

Maceo's vocal lessons were cancelled for the second week in a row but it is really alright.  Regardless, he continues to progress vocally.

So, Maceo was cast in a student film and they did the filming on Sunday.  Now he has been cast in a college students film.  I am not sure when that will be filmed but that is a new development.

Also, we know a college student who has written a short film.  Filming for it might take place on Sunday and Maceo has been invited to shadow the filming of it.

Maceo is shadowing the director of A Christmas Story and they have had several rehearsals.

Bishop went to a friends house.  He and Carlos listened to music and skateboarded to Taco Bell for a little dinner.  

In order to hang out with Carlos Bishop opted not to go to scouts but I went to scouts and helped finish up the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.  Yay!

Maceo had all four of his wisdom teeth removed.  Ouch!  He has handled it quite well.

Bishop and I had more amazing conversation.  Conversation with him is very challenging, he is quite the deep thinker and I embrace the challenge.  Love it!!!

Maceo has been reading True and False: Heresy and Common Sense for the Actor by David Mamet

I voted.  It has been a difficult election to follow for many reasons so we didn't watch the results come in via television.  We didn't want to hear the commentary and Maceo was recovering from teeth removal anyway.  We did track the results via the internet with maps that were updating live.
After I went to my bedroom Maceo did watch some politically related television.

Bishop and I then Maceo and I did have some conversation regarding the results today.  My husband and I are unified in our perspective regarding the election; however, our children do have their own opinions.  It is challenging - we really have to work to HEAR each other.  It is good for all of us as we really have to think about what we believe and how best to articulate it so that it can be heard and we have to work on hearing.
Maceo has been binge watching the British television sitcom series 'Chewing Gum' and the American sitcom 'New Girl'

Bishop and I had a conversation regarding how oftentimes people assume that people viewing art are actively engaged and thinking deep thoughts yet assume that those viewing media, such as television or videos on the internet, are passive in their thinking.  We challenged this line of thinking by noting how Maceo consistently watches shows while noting the writers and actors choices and is mulling around the idea of writing his own comedy sketches and sitcom.  Bishop then shared with me some of what goes through his mind while he is watching shows - "what are the characters doing?  what should they have done?  what would a character from another show if inserted into this scenario?  what would a character that I created do if inserted into this show?"  Wow, I may think of the first two things but never have I thought of the last two.  I love how his brain works!
We put out the Martinmas lanterns although I have to admit that we didn't celebrate it or Veteran's Day in any other way.

Bishop helped me make several meals to put in our freezer and some to give to a pregnant family member.  We have made french onion soup, broccoli cheddar soup, chili, bacon ranch chicken, ritzy chicken and snickerdoodle dough.  We have some other dishes in mind to finish up over the next couple of days.
Bishop and I went to a Diwali festival. We experienced a buffet with a lot of amazing Indian food, traditional and contemporary Indian music, belly dancing, and the best conversation.
Bishop is an amazing conversationalist.  His breadth of knowledge is truly astounding.

Inspiration

The Hundred Languages 

by Loris Malaguzzi

No way.  The hundred is there.

The child

is made of one hundred.

The child has

a hundred languages

a hundred hands

a hundred thoughts

a hundred ways of thinking

of playing, of speaking.

A hundred always a hundred

ways of listening

of marveling, of loving

a hundred joys

for singing and understanding

a hundred worlds

to discover

a hundred worlds

to invent

a hundred worlds

to dream.

The child has

a hundred languages

(and a hundred hundred hundred more)

but they steal ninety-nine.

The school and the culture

separate the head from the body.

They tell the child:

to think without hands

to do without head

to listen and not to speak

to understand without joy

to love and to marvel

only at Easter and at Christmas.

They tell the child:

that work and play

reality and fantasy

science and imagination

sky and earth

reason and dream

are things

that do not belong together.

And thus they tell the child

that the hundred is not there.

The child says:

No way.  The hundred is there.

Bishop's Pottery Published!!!

Bishop and his pottery have been published in a great new magazine, iGen21!!!
The entire magazine is a truly amazing endeavor.
Bishop's layout is on pages 44 and 45.  It is beautiful.

Please check it out.

Lifestyle of Learning 2016 Edition: Volume Twenty-Four

The purpose of education is to have an interesting life.  Now.
The purpose of education is to have "the adventures and deep intellectual experiences, to exercise their curiosity and make connections, now, as they go through that education.
-Maria Droujkova

November 1 - 6

The weather has been wonderful and Herb and I took advantage of it by going for a walk at the nature center and a little dining al fresco.

A type of oak leaf...but what type?!?

Inspirational photography inside of the center.

Beauty berries greeting me as I exited the center.  Ahhh!

Pomme frites and aioli - yum!

We finished up our exploration of Venus in science group.    We finished our conversation on the effects of the thick atmosphere on Venus, we created a timeline of exploration of Venus, and looked at a Mariner simulation created by one of our students.

We also explored radar, what it is and how it was used to map the surface of Venus.  We did a version of this radar simulation.  We loved this activity and plan on doing it again after we tweak it just a bit more.

Maceo didn't have vocal lessons but he did have ppt vocal production, ppt acting, improv, troupe,  teen players and assistant directing A Christmas Story.
He also watched a performance of Of Mice and Men with his acting troupe and afterwards they did some improv for the audience (you know they needed something to lift their spirits after that show).  They enjoyed some gelato  together along with some of the cast of Of Mice and Men who gave a bit of a talk back.  Maceo and his youth performance troupe performed at a benefit to support A Sporting Chance.  It was difficult to get great photos as they were facing away from me, singing over a balcony.  As usual, they were wonderful.  The patrons enjoyed it immensely.

There might have been some dancing!

Yup, dancing!!!

The guy in the middle is one of the troupe's biggest fans and the dancing guy from above.

Bishop attended the event as well.  There was a chef present who had plates of tasty items for sale.  Bishop's favorite was the pork and apples and mine was the goat cheese polenta.  Definitely food for thought.
Bishop also took note of the pottery that was on display in the gallery.

Bishop helped with yet another Eagle Scout project  (6 hours).  He has so much fun with these guys and is acquiring or reinforcing skills.  Love it!

Bishop has done some cooking (love it!!!).  Yesterday it was bbq'd hot link grilled cheese sandwiches (super yum!!!).  Maceo and I had an amazing three hour long conversation about Of Mice and Men, about the difference between having a creative mind and being creatively driven, and about all of his research and goals.
Presently, Maceo is on set acting in a short film and Bishop is playing Fallout.

Always living and learning - it's a good life!

Enjoying Autumn and Anticipating Thanksgiving

Traditions are important to me.  I have struggled over the last year or so to accomplish the many things that we traditionally do that help us feel the rhythm of the year.  I am trying to get back in to a groove because I miss the traditions, they are important to me.  About a week and a half before Halloween I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and discouraged so I created the Halloween checklist as an attempt to get focused.  It was, in fact, instrumental in helping me have a delightful Halloween.  I am now going to give some thought to how I envision the fast approaching Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is a holiday that is only second to Christmas as a favorite for several in my family.  It is a stay-at-home in front of the fireplace kind of day.  We fellowship, watch the parade and football and, quite importantly, eat to our hearts content.  It also signals for us that the end of Autumn is nigh.  So, Thanksgiving and the time between now and then are highly valued and I want to enjoy them to their fullest.   

1).  We did not get around to watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!  So we shall watch it soon with the requisite caramel apples and crackling fire.

2).  We will watch The Hobbit (you know, the animated version from my childhood.  We traditionally watch this before Halloween.  It just feels like an Autumn movie).  I want to make this caramel corn to munch on during the movie.  Yum!

3).  Celebrate Martinmas.

4).  Light Autumn candles.

5).  Remove Halloween decorations by the 8th of November and get out the Thanksgiving decorations.

6).  Reclaim my dining room in preparation of the Thanksgiving feast!

7).   Watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving possibly while snacking on these Pilgrims hats treats.

8).  Make pumpkin bread.

9).  Make a gratitude tree.  Here is one I made before but I also like this one.  I also like the idea of adding these cinnamon salt dough leaves to the tree.

10).  Take a walk crunching the Autumn leaves and collecting natural items to use in decorating.

11).  Every Thanksgiving I create a  brunch buffet of sorts.  We munch on this throughout the day as we wait for THE Thanksgiving dinner to be completed.  You can take a look at buffets from previous years here and here.  Last year I utilized Bishop's pottery as serving pieces and I intend on doing that again this year.  I typically serve a pumpkin dip with gingersnaps and intend on doing so again this year.  The most essential part of the buffet is the meat, cheese and crackers.  Of course, I will serve a variety of each again this year.  Additionally, Bishop and I have decided that we would like to do something with brie and try our hand at a couple of different canapes.  I am highly considering making cranberry, brie and prosciutto crostini, roasted red bell pepper and goat cheese bites, ricotta and prosciutto crackers, and baked brie in puff pastry with raspberry jam or with apple butter.   I think I will also try these pumpkin spice cream horns and, of course, I will serve a variety of fruits.  I will serve orange juice and set up a hot tea bar.

12).  I exercise my culinary creativity while preparing the buffet.  Thanksgiving dinner is the same - always the same.  I can be a little creative with the dessert (only a little) but I will have a revolt on my hands if I vary the main menu.  I will serve turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli and cheese, green bean casserole, cranberries, rolls, sparkling grape juice, pumpkin pie with whipped cream and, my one creative change, pumpkin creme brulee.

13).  Drink apple cider.

14). Vote.

15). Recognize Stir-up Sunday by stirring up some hot chocolate mix, spiced tea mix and cookie dough, at least sugar cookie dough.