The Weekly Rundown

We've had a busy week!

We toured the local pbs station. That was pretty spectacular. We saw the whole of their operations, including sets, the sound booth, the master control room and multiple monster banks of computers and other equipment. We talked with several employees about the day to day work that goes into broadcasting the programs we watch. We learned about the differences between analog and digital and the challenges in making the transition to the new way. We even met the Executive Vice President--the man who makes the analog to digital announcements on tv! The girls have been talking about various broadcasting topics ever since.

Since there was no school on Friday, we had our long time family friends Frank & Clara over. That was a blast. We don't get to see them often enough.

T has been enjoying gymnastics at the Y.

C and I have been playing basketball during T's class--that's been really fun for both of us.

C had her second basketball game today. She is loving it, and I am glad! It' s a good program--positive, instructional and fun.

After basketball, we headed straight over to a park on the Mill Creek where C had a Girl Scout Patch program "Rocks Rock." She loved it. I'm glad that the girls in her troop have found their common ground the way they have.

Through the week we have continued with Spore in our free time, and a more structured unit on evolution during our educational/tablework time.

T has spent a lot of her free time with the Spiderwick Guide to Sprites. She's working on an elaborate enclosure for a pet sprite. I'll let her tell you about it....

Continuing Ed--Or, Tessa's New Self-Directed Course of Study

This is the most exciting thing I have seen on the internets in a long, long time:

GIMP-The GNU Image Manipulation Program It's free. Free to download, free to tweak. Not that I have the capabilities, but if I wanted to change the way it works, I could. Legally. With the creators' blessing. In fact, if I wanted to know how it works (if I cared--which I don't,) that information is freely available. Free.

From what I can tell, it's as powerful and as sophisticated as Photoshop.

Photoshop is decidedly not free.

Like Photoshop, GIMP is also insanely complicated to use.

But guess what else is free?

The guide book. It's called Grokking the Gimp (how cool is the Heinlein reference! I love that!) It's available online, or for download under an open publication license.

I've been spending my free time (which, btw, is mainly stolen, and decidedly not free) over the past few days getting to know the gimp. I am so, so pleased with it.

I am amazed that this software is free, free, free.

I was looking forward to the day when I would pay, pay, pay for Photoshop (just Elements, but that's still pricey.) Now I don't have to! I can expand my hardware collection instead!

Yay!

SPORE!

[this post composed entirely by C]

Hello Everyone!

Dad bought a computer game called Spore. It's really neat! You start with a cell. You evolve that cell through creature, tribe, civilization, into intergalactic travel!

This video clip is from the National Geographic documentary Spore: How to Build a Better Being.

You start playing Spore by choosing a planet. Your second decision is whether your starting cell will be an herbivore or a carnivore. Then you direct your cell through the primordial ooze to get food, which earns you DNA points, which you trade for parts to add to your cell. You use these parts for defense, for faster swimming, or for changing your diet. The game continues in this way.

I have evolved my creature to the tribe stage. I'm almost at civilization stage. I can only find a picture of it at creature stage, though. My creature is an herbivore. The species name is Reylia. Reylia are generally friendly creatures, except when they're under attack. They can spit poison!

This is a picture of my creature:



Spore is really fun, but be warned: If you get Spore, you will not be using your computer time for anything else!

Something New Out of Something Old

(click photo to see full sized image)

I love our new camera!

I've been working through a photographing fire tutorial. I have some fantastic images. This one isn't the most impressive, but I like it best because I am so fond of the subject.

We made these luminarias to celebrate the Winter Solstice. They were pretty simple--crayon shavings melted between layers of waxed paper with a cardboard bottom. It had all the elements of a good project: We made something new out of something old, the process was satisfying to little fingers, the mess it made was colorful, beautiful, and not too difficult to clean up, and the end result is striking. Children love to make beautiful things that are also useful.

The Feral Cat Project

Remember that feral cat and her four kittens?

We visited two of the kittens today. They have grown into silky, slinky cats. It was such a pleasure to see how they're thriving. They live with a family with two gentle girls who are about the same age as our girls. They get plenty of cuddles--which they clearly love, but they also sometimes find themselves in positions contrary to what they would choose for themselves--which they tolerate with remarkable aplomb.

The other two kittens went to another family friend--that family whose children I have babysat for the past nine years. Yesterday the family (minus the cats) stopped by for a quick visit. They brought pictures. Those two cats are thriving as well. It was fantastic to see how they have grown, and to see how happy they are about being carted around by a four year old.

Mama cat has been spayed, and she's back at her home with my mom.

I have to admit, I had some trepidation going into the feral cat project. It was a calculated risk. I am so glad it turned out well!

Initially T had a hard time saying goodbye to the orange cat (pictured above) and his calico sister, but she worked through it, and now her perspective is that of the cat benefactress. The two families are happy with their new pets, the four cats are (presumably) thrilled with their good fortune, and while mama cat is still feral (meaning, if you're fond of your fingers, don't try to touch her!) she won't be churning out any more litters. Win, win, win, and win.

Welcome to Hecate's Academy

Since we have only recently gone live, it's occurred to me that our readers might wonder who the heck is Hecate and why does she have an academy?

As you probably know, my girls have a rich imagination (collectively and independently.) We have a longstanding "game" wherein they pretend to be young fairies who rescue animals in need of help, attend school, engage in commerce, travel, and procure dining and accommodations at various inns. The game lends itself well to adaptation to regular life--grocery trips are gathering expeditions, lunchtime is an opportunity to dine at a various restaurants, and when it's time to knuckle down to the more boring parts of homeschooling (long division springs to mind,) carrying the game over to fairy school makes for an easier transition from "play" to "work." [I use quotations because in some circles, it is a basic tenet that child's play is the work of children. I don't disagree with that, but I find it helpful to distinguish between what they want to do, and what I want them to do.]

Hecate's Academy is the name of their school. C's math book has a standardized space on the cover for the pupil's name and the school name. Yes, it says "Hecate's Academy." In sharpie, in her handwriting. And that's about as far as it goes. I have educator discount cards at retail establishments all over town. They all say "(Our Surname) Homeschool."

Why Hecate? Several years ago, at the inception of this game, the young fairies knocked at the back door, explained their circumstances (travelers wanting lunch and lodging,) and inquired my name. I have always had an affinity for the maiden/mother/crone trinity from Greek mythology: Persephone, Demeter and Hecate. Hecate is my favorite, as she is (among other things) the Goddess of the crossroads, walker of the night, and protector of childbirth. She is often depicted with her three hounds. So, when they asked, Hecate just fell out of my mouth. Should I ever meet up with The Lady Herself, I hope she can forgive my sacrilege.

Happy New Year!