Human nature is a funny thing. Have you been slightly amused at all the face masks lately? Supposedly, they could help protect you against airborne swine flu, as well as the common cold and the other evils, known and unknown, lurking in your next puff of air. Never mind that your chances of catching H1N1 from the air are miniscule compared to catching it from a public restroom faucet and that frequent handwashing is WAY more effective than wearing a paper mask. When faced with a large scale panic situation, human nature would much rather start doing something it hasn't been doing before (masks) than to just increase the frequency of something it's presumably already been doing (washing hands.)

At least if we have to worry about swine flu, can we look forward to lower pork prices? (Said while polishing off a bowl of navy bean and ham soup.)

I am incredibly proud of all the HOPE kids. Our Almost Annual Show and Tell Day on Saturday was our best ever, with contributions of poetry, Latin and Greek recitations; piano, harp, and wind instruments; vocal solos; displays of school work and entrepreneurship; and a costumed, expertly presented rendition of the classic Battle of Wits from Princess Bride, every family's favorite movie. Okay, our family's fave.

Someone has lost my camera. I feel partially blind when I can't capture the fleeting moments and projects in progress. Hmmm....what to do.

I'm in the middle of reading Led by Faith by Immaculee Ilibagiza. This book is the sequel to her first Left to Tell, the account of her "skin of her teeth" survival of the Rwandan genocide. Once you've read the first one, there's no doubt in your mind that you'll read the second, painful as it is....

Ahhhhhh.....Rachmaninoff. Yes.

I have a HUGE bag of Swiss chard that was graciously given to me by a HOPE friend this week. I am convinced that there must be a fabulous way to prepare this beautiful, nutritious vegetable, and I'm determined to find it. This is one of those foods that I associate with pain, namely the pain of having to eat it fresh from my grandmother's garden, boiled in salt water. I grew up thinking that the folks in Switzerland must be very, very warped. But I will not let this gift go to waste...I am GOING to find a great way to cook it!

There's a very busy week ahead, but I simply must buckle down and get next year's school planned. This will be Shelley's senior year, and I think I've been putting it off because I can't bear to think about it being her last. But...it's an important year and I need to do my very best at piecing together the combination of studies that will serve her well as she begins the process of applying to colleges.

Well...that's all, folks. May our Father grant you a productive, meaningful week with your families...

Labels: Books, Children, Food, Health, Homeschooling