Nice home ed day out yesterday (I left my camera on the usb here so day is not depicted), again a day not as planned but working out well. We went to Duff House playpark first and had intended going round the house but it was closed. We spied much festive goodness through the shop window though and will be returning shortly! So we went over to the Macduff aquarium, where I’ve never been before, due to ethical vegan-type considerations. However I’m glad weve all seen it for ourselves, I like the kids to think things through, look at different sides of issues, form their own opinions through experience and not just have one idea imposed on them. So we discussed how, in this community, the aquarium is one of the only ways many children would ever get to see a fish presented as anything other than food. The highlight for most of us I think was a young rescued gillimot who was splashing about in the large pool, then taken to be dried and warmed and then fed :) Was nice to meet new home edders too… it’s always interesting to share the stories and journeys that have led us all here. Came home and watched Finding Nemo – quite good fishy documentary and game things on that disc. I have great sympathy for Dory’s memory problems…
Another we film we watched at the weekend was Bridge to Terabithia – I know it’s being used in some schools to discuss bullying and I wanted to see it… tissues were needed (even by Davie). Kids loved the art aspects - DVD has a sketching lessons bit. I love the line ‘close your eyes, but keep your mind wide open’.
I have caved re: Christmas stuff. I had promised myself that I would do nothing festive until December, but today this advent thing just happened:
The holly berries were calling to me out the window – tree much higher than had anticipated though and the good clusters of berries are about 30 feet up, happy blackbirds munching them. We did well to get the two here :D Plus, (here come the excuses) the dark nights (actually getting dark in the afternoon now) speak of the approaching solstice and a need for glitter and candles grows. Kids have been glitter spraying some celestial objects for the night sky kitchen:
will need a few coats I think… I have been prancing round ebay like a sad Christmas tree fairy… what can I say? The words lurid and gaudy spring to mind 
The Artists Way: A Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self - an intensely powerful and synchronistic way of clearing blocks, old psychological patterns and dysfunctions of the past. Get doing your morning pages, they're amazing!
fabulous guide to foraging in Britain.
amazing Russian books these: spirituality; growing; living naturally; raising children with love and respect; quite magical. Release any preconceived ideas of how life should be (or books) and create your space of love!
A very well researched novel which, alongside Picoult's usual 'heading to a trial' plot, explores many facets of and perspectives on Asperger's Syndrome. The potential and common effects of AS on siblings is especially well documented here. As gripping and informative a book as 
a great storehouse of food growing knowledge from Dirty Nails :)
"Girls just wanna have... wanna have fun...", and we still are :)
