I really had no idea what she meant so I gave a few answers such as I sit in that chair when I read aloud and the older kids work on some things in their room. Then my mind went blank.

After she left, it occurred to me that perhaps she didn’t get far enough into the family room to see the overflowing bookshelves. Or maybe, in the absence of a “school table” or a cluster of little desks, she noticed that the dining room table was spread with–well–with dining things: tablecloth, napkins, candles in the middle. I haven’t been to her house so I’m still not sure what she expected to see.

But upon further reflection, I think the real question is where don’t we do school?

We do catechism and most of our read alouds in the living room, with me in my cushy chair and the kids in the other chairs or on the piano bench or the floor.

Or we squeeze together on the couch to watch a movie or documentary. Or cartoons.

We discuss the books we’re reading with Larry, at the table over lunch or dinner. Family devotions also happen around the table.

I often check math or spell words for wish lists and thank you notes while I’m fixing lunch in the kitchen.

Speaking of the kitchen, that’s where we cook (and clean) together. Where we soak chicken bones in vinegar to dissolve the calcium. Where we make paper and salt dough and other messy crafts. Where we look things up on the computer.

Games get played pretty much anywhere in the house. Preferably outside, if it involves swords or a ball.

They have a craft table in the play room for less messy crafts, although I suspect they still usually sit on the floor.

In the play room they also make Lego creations and create elaborate Playmobil worlds.

Even in the bathroom, we practice hygiene and have short lessons in first aid as needed.

The wall maps are in the hallway, as is a human body poster. . .even the younger boys love to find things on the map.

They do independent work wherever the mood strikes–in their own room, or sprawled on the living room floor, or perched on a milk can in the kitchen, or in the car while we’re running errands.

On longer car trips we listen to audio books, and then of course there are always things to see and do when we get where we’re going.

We talk–asking questions, answering questions, asking more questions, thinking aloud–wherever we are.

The list goes on, of course, but you get the idea. I really can’t think of anywhere that we don’t do school.

(Please realize that this post is not written about any one person or congregation, but rather is a cumulative response to sixteen years of being a pastor’s wife as well as having dear friends who are pastor’s wives or otherwise outsiders in their community.)

Anyhow, last month, somewhere online I came across the advice to make a daily to do list with six items. If something doesn’t get done today, it becomes one of tomorrow’s six items. I tried this for a couple weeks and it worked surprisingly well for me (even though I ignore my list now & then!). So I made myself a chart with a column for planning our weekly menu as well as a column for six to do items Monday through Saturday. Some things are constant: Monday’s list always includes laundry, ironing, and order produce basket. If it’s a school day, “school” gets a spot on the list; as do any outside commitments such as meetings or potlucks. Pretty much anything that I need to be reminded to do (register Drama Boy for Higher Things) or that takes up a significant chunk of my time (homemade pizza for Friday night) goes on the list. If there’s a spot left, I write in my current sewing project. This helps me get a more realistic grasp on what I can accomplish in a given day. . .and it also helps keep me focused on the days where I am unable to think of what I should be doing. (what? you don’t have days like that? sigh. . .)

Adding to that, at the first of the year an email friend shared this 52 Week Challenge. It may, or may not, be helpful to you, but it suits my needs well so far. It combines decluttering and tidying up with cleaning areas that tend to get overlooked (top shelf of the pantry, anyone?). Sometimes I rearrange; sometimes things go back in the same spot. I’ve completed most of the weekly challenges in one or two afternoons, although I spread out the current one: refrigerator on Tuesday, fridge freezer on Wednesday, and today I tackle the chest freezer. When the email arrives on Monday, I read through it and then look at my chart to see when I will have time to do it. And I write it down. Because if it’s not written down, odds are good I won’t do it.

Twirly Girl had drawn Boy Genius’s name this last Christmas, and one of the things she gave him was some bright orange paracord. He tied up a few things with it, but finally sat down to make his bracelet last week, with a little help from youtube. It took a little trial and error to get it to lay flat, and now he plans to make himself a belt with the remaining cord.

Friday afternoon I drafted a skirt pattern, which is always fun though this time was extra fun when I realized my waist and hips were both a couple inches smaller than the last time I drafted a skirt pattern. Yay! Anyhow, I started by drafting a four gored skirt and then altered it to (hopefully) resemble the girls’ long skirt #25 from Ottobre 3/2004. I had originally planned to grade up the Ottobre pattern. . .until I realized I needed to add 5″ to the waist and 10″ to the hips plus the extra length and, well, suddenly starting from scratch sounded simpler. I cut out the fabric Saturday afternoon, minus the waistband which I still need to draft.

This is intended to replace my well-worn denim skirt, and I’ll start sewing as soon as I can decide what color to use for topstitching. The medium blue on the far left is the regular sewing machine thread; it matches better in real life than in this picture. The topstitch threads are navy blue, red, and light denim. I already eliminated white and dark gold. . .I am leaning towards red at the moment, with the light denim being my second choice. Or perhaps denim topstitching with red bartacks. . . For the pocket lining and inner waistband I’m using a cotton print, strawberries on small blue checks.

I spent Saturday morning at a 4-H fiber workshop with Twirly Girl. They used needle felting to decorate notebook covers; some of the moms bought supplies to make their own, but I ended up working on my knitting while I watched. I think she was the only kid (of half a dozen or so) who had felted before, but she still learned a couple new tricks. She had a good time and we both bought some more supplies while we were there. . .she is looking forward to next month when they will felt 3-D objects. After we got home (and while I was cutting out my skirt) I contemplated a new felting project for myself, and Sunday afternoon I started on it.

I’ve been wanting to make some sort of wreath or banner for our front door, and decided to make this house. The background felt is gray, or perhaps bluish gray. . .at first I thought it was light blue, but once I added the bright blue door I realized it was gray. Ah well! I plan to put a bright red heart where an attic window might go, and the middle will have window/s with flower boxes. I haven’t decided yet what kind of greenery to put on either side of the door. . .bushes? potted flowers? ivy? I’m pretty sure I’ll be designing this one as I go along.

If anyone knows of a good movie set in New Zealand, I’m all ears. The only one I could find was Her Majesty, which I enjoyed a couple years ago–but I knew my pack of boys would not be impressed. Instead I requested the documentary with the least amount of negative reviews. It was definitely heavy on the tourism side of the country but it did give us a better look at the scenery. We also searched YouTube and found footage of the kiwi bird as well as the All Blacks rugby team performing their traditional haka.

We didn’t do any crafts, unless you count the maps included in the curriculum. But we did spend some time searching online for recipes, and yesterday had a New Zealand-ish dinner. No pictures as it was fraught with technical issues, like the undercooked leg of lamb. Which meant we ended up eating dessert first while the meat went back in the oven (and Twirly Girl’s mashed potatoes got cold). And about that dessert. . .Drama Boy and I made a pavlova, which baked up quite lovely. Then it crumbled to bits when I tried to remove it from the baking sheet. Drama Boy found a recipe for a complicated topping that included chocolate and chestnuts–and then we put kiwi fruit on top of that. It was quite yummy, once we managed to put it all together.

We wrapped up our studies with a written assignment, length based on age and ability. Note to self: Drama Boy hasn’t turned in his essay yet. Twirly Girl wrote about the three kiwis: the bird, the fruit, and the New Zealanders. Boy Genius wrote about the varied scenery, and Bouncy Boy (with the help of his human pencil, a.k.a. Mommy) chose to write his paragraph about the Maori.

Next stop: Scotland. . .

So this month Drama Boy is in charge of sweeping the hard floors (and mopping as needed) while Twirly Girl vacuums the carpeted rooms. Boy Genius cleans the upstairs bathroom; Bouncy Boy Cleans the downstairs bathroom. And it’s Silly Boy’s turn to dust while Baby Boy is cleaning mirrors and appliance fronts. And I supervise while doing those odd little jobs that don’t necessarily need doing weekly. . .

She chose Ottobre 4/2005, design #19. I made it a few sizes larger than her measurements so that she’ll be able to wear it as long as possible. I used ribbon for the belt loops but made no other changes, other than she opted not to have a contrasting band or belt.

My next project would have been a new robe for myself but. . .as I was finishing Twirly Girl’s robe, the presser foot lever on my serger broke. Again. A new lever has been ordered, and in the meanwhile I’ve started on a different project–one that only needs the sewing machine.