Been weeks I know...

It has been weeks since I posted & truly I have not missed it. I do love blogs and blogging, I just needed some time away after my seven weeks in New Orleans. Business has been good and the family is great. The honey bees have been working hard & I look forward to honey harvest in a few weeks.

I am starting a kitchen renovation in Durham on Monday. Kevin Osborne & I have a challenging 10 days to complete the project while the clients are out of town. I am dependent on suppliers for the cabinets and flooring, so part of the time will be "hurry up and wait" for delivery trucks. Here are a few before photos:

Shelley & I spent most of the weekend with four other home schooling couples in a planning retreat for Lighthouse Christain Homeschool Association. It was good spending time with other home schooling moms & dads and planning a year of events and strategies for the folks in and around Wake Forest, NC.

Do kids know computers better than cows?

A news paper in the UK had an interesting article last week. It seems that British children no longer can identify common plants, animals and trees. Sir David Attenborough is alarmed and feels a change needs to be made. His concern is that kids who cannot recognize things in nature may grow up to be adults who do not care about the natural world.

I agree with his assessment. Several years ago Shelley was having lunch with a cousin.
In the midst of catching up Shelley's cousin was sharing how her boy of 10 or so was growing up to be a city boy. The shocking piece of information Shelley came away with was the fact that this young man did not know where tomato's came from. He had never seen a tomato growing on a vine.

A well educated child not only will be able to identify many types of animals, but should be able to recognize the plants and trees around their world. Even better, they should get their hands dirty is the soil growing some thing beautiful and something good to eat.

Oh, and after reading the article...I do not know what a blue tit is either, I think it is a bird.

Security Dad

I was up and out early this morning. By 6:45am I was at my volunteer station of security dad on the curb in front of the convention center. I was basically there to stop folks from parking where shuttle buses were going to be dropping off attendees. I stood by post until after 9am and then found Joy and Shelley. After a few laps of the book fair and several conversations with old friends we were off to lunch. After lunch, I spent time with Joy and a gaggle of students from the Triangle. After a long nap, it was time for more laps of the book fair, chats with friends and dinner with the family. We then attended the annual talent show and saw more families we love and care for. The kids are now at a late night teen game outing and Shelley and I are lounging and getting ready for some sleep.

On the road and in the hotel

The family and I are in Winston-Salem for a few days to celebrate the American Idol, David Cook;)

We actually are here for the annual NCHE Conference and enjoying our time together. At the moment; Joy is dozing off to sleep while Katy and Creech talk science, Shelley is playing solitaire and Pavarotti is singing to us all from the Ipod. Now, Pavarotti is not the only voice we have heard this evening. We have heard ZZ Top, Phil Collins, Il Divo, Enter the Haggis and several others along with a box of hot and fresh Krispy-Kreme donuts. Earlier, we watched the last five minutes of the American Idol Finale on YouTube while we watched So You Think You Can Dance on TV. Yes, for a few days, we are soaking up true American Culture;)

Wisdom...no really.

My family and I have been involved in homeschooling for over 16 years. In that time we have heard many folks talk about "sheltering" their kids. I read a great one from The Krusty Sage...I hope you will enjoy.

Pomp and Circumstance

We enjoyed a great weekend in Winston-Salem. The NCHE Convention was a time to remember why we have chosen to homeschool, visit with friends, enjoy our family and make plans for the next few school years.

As you can see from the photo to the above, Katy was all smiles on graduation day. 14 years of hard work has been rewarded. She was able to see many friends from the years past and family came from far and near to enjoy the event. It was truly four days of celebration, laughter and family memories.

As you can see...every sassy grad needs a sassy tassle.

Leave you with some music...

The family is packing to leave for a few days of celebration. Our oldest daughter Katy is graduating from High School this weekend. She has been involved in our experiment of home schooling for the last 14 years. It has been an adventure that has brought only treasure to our home and family. We are proud of Katy, she is graduating with a 3.84GPA and over 24 credit hours from N.C. State University and Vance/Granville Community College. For her, the adventure will continue for decades, we will sit on the sidelines and cheer at her triumphs and shed tears with her disappointments.

We are traveling to the NCHE annual convention in Winston Salem. We are looking forward to the trip together and the adventues we will have. I leave you with some traveling music.