Journal: Bunny Herders and Bourbon Perks

Our school week was cut short to three days. Despite that we crammed in a week’s worth of work over three days. We wrapped up our study of Pilgrim’s Progress and the kids finished their map of Christian’s journey to the Celestial City. For the most part the kids enjoyed the story but picked out some of the Protestant (mostly Calvinist hints of predestination) themes for discussion. Their main contention was that Christian was expected to abandon his friends and family in order to attain salvation. He left his wife and children in a city destined to be destroyed and all residents doomed to Hell. The kids could not believe that he did not return to rescue his family and left them to their own devices. Sparkles decided he was a horrible husband and Oldest wondered if Christian should even be allowed to enter Heaven since he abandoned his responsibilities. Over all they liked the story though some passages were a bit tough to get through with the allegories within allegories.

We also wrapped up our study of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto. We listed to it one last time and the kids did some freestyle art and freewriting inspired from the music. Sparkles managed to write a three page romance…way more than I expected. Littlest joined in on the activity as well drawing some leaves and writing the word “good”. In art we studied Botticelli’s Madonna of the Magnificat. This was our last piece to study by Botticelli and we’ll be moving on to Giotto next term. They were not all that impressed by Botticelli until I pulled up his Map of Hell…then they decided they liked the pieces I had chosen for study. They are learning that art appreciation requires a bit more study than just looking a pictures. It is hard to understand artwork without also looking at the context, history, and culture of the society that produced the artists.

Batman loves warn sheets out of the dryer

In history the middle two are reading about Marco Polo and marked his route along the Silk Road in their notebooks. Oldest wrote an essay (rather short and to the point) on the Edict of Nantes and Littlest is still absorbed in the adventures of Leif Erikson. The documentary we are enjoying this week is called Human Planet and narrated by John Hurt (known as The War Doctor in our house) from Doctor Who. Learning about different cultures is fascinating. The skyburial sequence and the narwhal hunt were the most interesting to us so far.

Our little neighbor friend arrived promptly after her school day was done (just as she “threatened” Oldest pointed out) on Tuesday. On Thursday my mom arrived and the kids enjoyed their time with her. The kids talked her into playing video games most of the time and I kept myself busy knitting or cleaning. I did take her out shopping to some of the stores she wanted to visit. Sparkles went with us much to her regret. My mother is a browser and has to

look at and touch nearly everything. My mom says that I shop like a man because I get exactly what I want and then leave. Sparkles is more accustomed to my style and shopping and vowed to never go shopping with grandma again. She asked me how I did not die of boredom as a kid…which I found absolutely hysterical.

On Friday my husband and I went to Bardstown. We enjoyed a free concert provided by ISC (Independent Stave Company) to those who work in the Bourbon industry. We saw Montgomery Gentry and they put on an excellent two hour show. We had not heard of the opening act but she did pretty good too. I was surprised that no bourbon was served at the event. I was looking forward to trying some but they only served beer. My guess is there were some legal or licensing issues but still…kinda ironic. I didn’t drink any beer but did enjoy

watching those that imbibed too much. The evening was highly entertaining. I was hungry by the time we made it back home so we stopped at a local restaurant at about two in the morning. I cannot remember the last time I was out on a date that late…

Most evenings my husband and the kids let the two bunnies out of the cage and give them free roam of the yard. They have sticks to direct the bunnies out of flowers and away from our neighbor’s yards. I went out tonight and took a few pictures. Bunny herding…I am sure it must be an unusual sight to anyone who passes by.