Friday, January 05, 2018

the rest of December






























While we were visiting my family, I decided to take the scenic route on the way home from the post office and hardware store. I drove down some back roads into steep valleys and climbed around winding twisting unpaved roads thinking I could snap a few pics from my driver's seat undisturbed.
But in fact, I met more cars on those rural roads than I did on the paved road back to my parents' driveway. Ha! So much for the quiet countryside. Anyways, I did pull over for a few shots at the top of a very steep hill that I always dare my husband to not use the the brakes on. Being a wise and prudent man, he never listens. Since I was armed with my camera, I also braked carefully down it as I was looking for good spots to stop and take photos. I found a few before reaching the bottom of the hill and the road which then winds its way back up to the hill my parents live on. That's Pennsylvania for you, hills and valleys with creeks and trees all over the place.
On our last evening there, my brother and family, hosted all of us for dinner where he kept his wood fire burning brightly. With two full bookcases flanking the fireplace and soft comfortable chairs on the carpeted living room, I was almost ready to move in. I did sneak one picture of just him in his kitchen checking on the Italian meatballs he was preparing for dinner. But between meal prep and log burning, we chatted about books and I pulled various ones off to peruse that caught my eye. I found that fantastic bird book and then a book on the writings of John Muir by Edwin Teale. Both have been added to my substantial book wishlist.  I took blurry pictures of the part where Muir is discussing Solomon's attention to nature to defend his own lifelong pursuit of nature study.
So good.
So very Charlotte Mason.
And, having made the acquaintance of a wild flower, so that they can never forget it or mistake it, they should examine the spot where they find it, so that they will know for the future in what sort of ground to look for such and such a flower. 'We should find wild thyme here!' 'Oh, this is the very spot for marsh marigolds; we must come here in the spring.'
'Home Education'

2 comments:

  1. I have not ever seen a cat emulating the behavior of a canine at the dinner table. Funny that! Wonderful shots of what I am thinking is Pennsylvania- I am not familiar with Canada or that state so...I am guessing. Excellent choices in books. I have always respected John Muir's work and opinions and even his dogmas. Did the Monopoly game run the full gamut? I am hoping that the young man won! Thank you for sharing. :)

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  2. Thanks for the book title. I am going to look for it. Great quote from CM!

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