Nature deficit disorder......

dir.salon.com/story/mwt/feature/2005/06/02/Louv/index.html

I would love to know your thoughts on this article and whether you think that children (in general) these days really do suffer because of their lack of exposure to nature......

How do your own children experience nature? Do they have enough exposure to nature? What part do schools play in this? Do schools encourage enough contact with 'nature'????

I want to make one of these!!!

carolbeginnerblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/slacker.html

Isn't this lovely????? I want to make one of these!!! Not for planning camping trips but for planning.......I don't know! Something! Its so pretty :)

Crafty fingers....sticky fingers........

Samuel and Abigail had fun gluing pictures this morning..I put a pile of 'stuff' on the table for them to use.....foam shapes, coloured feathers....tin foil, doilies.....

It kept them happy for a while and I was able to get a few chores done!

Last nights sunset was so pretty!

These pictures don't do it justice...I took them through my bedroom window!

Still no news.....

No news on the job front...the lady hasn't called me and I called her again and her voicemail says she is not in the office today......so I guess I wait until tomorrow and hope she calls and if she doesn't call by lunchtime I will call her again....

I was just saying to Val that I wasn't looking for a job...I'm quite happy here at home and was looking forward to having some one to one time with Sam when Abigail starts school......but since being offered this job I have thought about it so much and have so many plans and ideas for things for the children to do and learn.......I'm really kind of excited about it.......so I do hope they want me to do the job. I'd just really like to speak to this lady and finally find out the application process and what I need to do for a September start...I know I need to have the police checks done...and I need my first aid certification.......but I'm sure I will need to do other things - like APPLY properly (???) and meet my assist.......and attend meetings or something about programming???????? I've no idea!!!! I don't know what their rules are regarding programnming....I DO know that I can use the resource room at parentlink for materials if I want to...and I DO know that balloons are not allowed....but what else?????

Hopefully I can speak to her tomorrow and get a few answers. I'm worrying about references too....I haven't worked in Canada before and hadn't worked for a long time in the UK....I have done some voluntary work.....worked in thrift stores, run workshops at homeschool groups, run local playgroups...started a Meet-a-Mom group in the UK......trained as a counsellor for a womens centre in Blackburn UK......helped at preschool etc etc.....but getting references is proving difficult.

So yes.....this is pre-occupying my mind right now......I really do hope I get to speak to her tomorrow.

I have a (spiral bound) notebook that I am filling up with lesson plan ideas....craft ideas....games, songs etc to use at the preschool........I have been going through all of Abigails preschool and Kindergarten homeschool folders and workbooks...getting ideas.....

So as much as I wasn't looking for a job...and it won't be the end of the world if it doesn't happen.....it would be nice if it did!

Sunday evening........

Sunday evening was nice.....I sat outside and relaxed in the sunshine while Lloyd hit the baseball for the dogs.....in between hits he was playing soccer with Laurie..and we just chatted and enjoyed the lovely warm evening.......

Needless to say, my dvd of Catch and Release is STILL sealed....we have been outside every evening and so haven't had a chance to watch a movie......I really want to watch it soon :)

Calm...

The weather today is having such a calming effect on me...I'm not sure why......everything is so still right now its unreal. It's overcast and cooler and they forecast thunderstorms this afternoon and tonight....perhaps this is the calm before the storm then.............

We have had such a lovely quiet lazy morning....Sam slept until 9am and so I cuddled up with him and I stayed in bed long enough to watch 100 Huntley Street (no I haven't converted to Christianity...I just find it often ahs some good issues covered - like todays show which focused author Kevin Leman and his new book 'The 7 Things He Won't Tell you - and why you need to know!' which was VERY interesting...all about the things your husband doesn't tell you.....like how he wants to be your hero......and how you should treat him like a 4 year old who shaves......and explain EVERYTHING :) it was very good and rang true in my opinion :)

This morning Abigail and Sam sat at the table and did some gluing and sticking with various things from the craft cupboard......Sam gets through a LOT of glue....

I cleaned out Goldie's fish tank.....I did three loads of laundry and washed the floors...washed some dishes.....did my sit ups (none of this is in order by the way!)

We went outside and let the dogs out for a run around for a while...we fed the chickens...the dogs and Cairo the cat (who ate a mouse on the porch too YUCK.....Abby spotted something on the porch and asked me if it was the mouses guts...and I had to say YES indeed it was :( Luckily Rosie ran on the porch and ate it up so I didn't have to clean up lol!

We watered the vegetable garden just in case the forecasted rain doesn't actually arrive!

I need to change the sugar solution in the Hummingbird feeders this evening....have to wait for Lloyd for that because I can't reach! I also need to water my tubs of flowers on the porch steps.....

Its been a nice morning....and I am loving the weather outside....it really is so calm out there its unreal......so still......and its leaving me feeling the same way :)