This and That

Well we avoided the February homeschool blahs, but instead were assailed with additional health problems and hassles with the Department of Work and Pensions thanks to our 'lovely'Government's desire to hassle the sick and disabled!  As a result a document the size of a dissertation should give the pen pushers plenty to think about!! Never a dull moment round here :-)

Pip has passed her bronze arts award and will receive her certificate next Thursday.  She has already begun working on her silver and one of her first self imposed challenges was to replicate a piece of animation.  Admittedly she has had help from Dave with the software challenges and the animation itself was shot using Uncle Bernard's bridge camera.  I think he would be really pleased to know that she is making good use of it.

Ben was officially on college break this past week, but he went on campus for four days to help with looking after the animals.  It looks like he might be able to help on a more formal basis for weekends and holidays but a start date has yet to be confirmed.

I am under Doctor's orders to do something just for me so I have unearthed two unfinished icons and have been working on them.  It's been an interesting process as you say a prayer before beginning and then work in silence.  All thoughts and worries are displaced by the sacred image before me and I feel really rested by the end of the session.

Here are some images from the past few weeks:

John Muir Conservation Award

The first session was mapping the fell and learning about John Muir.  In addition to the map, Pip collected various items from around the fell to turn into a collage once home.

Silver Arts Award

Pip has decide to look at various forms of illustration for this award:

Comic books from the Marvel series to The Beano and The Dandy.

Quentin Blake associated with the Roald Dahl books.

Tony Ross characters for the David Walliams novels.

Animation in the form of 'Mary, Mungo and Midge,' and Captain Pugwash courtesy of John Ryan studios.

Walt Disney

The Katie Morag stories

Once she has investigated each of the styles she will then choose one to teach in a workshop.

We have been following a hands on rabbit trail for History which included watching "The 1940s House" and having a go at some ration book recipes.  Typically I went hunting for my book associated with the series and realised in all the moving chaos it was culled!  Thankfully we were able to purchase a copy for £2.00 and I've enjoyed reading it snuggled under a blanket this afternoon.  We have thankfully avoided the floods but the weather has been pretty horrendous these past few weeks and another round of storms are on the horizon.  I think we will all be glad when Spring rolls around :-)

Wartime vegetable stew with dumplings.