It is Finished!! ...

I became interested in quilts recently when a friend asked for help in completing a quilt that was more than 40 years old and had been pieced together completely by hand. The quilt was donated to a church organization for purposes of an auction. In keeping with the spirit in which the quilt was created, it was decided to completely finish it by hand. So, one day, my friend brought a bunch of needles and thread to our homeschooling park day and we had ourselves a little quilting bee.

Pretty soon, I found myself wanting to make a quilt of my own. So, I signed up for a beginner class, picked out some pretty radical fabric and proceeded to begin.

I discovered that sewing is very relaxing and I love creating these great works of art that are also functional and warm.

This is the back and an example of the quilting.

This is the finished product.

While I was working on it and trying to figure out what I would do with it, N asked if he could have it. I thought that was appropriate, my first quilt for my first born child.

So, "The First Spark" was finished the day after his 8th birthday.

Of course, my girl wanted to know where HER quilt was! Once I explained that I could only work on one at a time, she then rifled through my fabric stash (I've been collecting fabric for several years just because I like many different fabrics and use them for decorations), picked out some that she liked and then informed me that we needed to go to the fabric store to find some others for her quilt.

More to come.....

~~Mama )O(

The Essence of "Privacy"

My good friend, Tammy, was featured in this video clip from CNN today regarding the homeschooling situation in California.

What is frustrating for most of us in California is the insistance that the law has "always been like that" (meaning that parents cannot choose to homeschool their children without a teaching credential). It's simply not true. Many are using the private school option which does not require teachers in a private school to be credentialed. There are plenty around here, in this Hollywood area bedroom community. Expensive as hell...and wouldn't you know it? Not all the teachers are credentialed. The "authorities" better go after THOSE schools before they come after mine.

What does a credential prove anyway? That one is adept at "classroom management" or that one is an expert to spot abuse at home? What about all the credentialed teachers that do the abusing? I am not trying to devalue a teaching credential. Several of my aunts and my cousin are credentialed teachers. I'm just saying that it is not necessary in order to enable EVERY SINGLE child to be educated.

Public school is but one CHOICE. Our family chooses private school, our own private school. So, to the government I want to say quite loudly....BUTT OUT!!!

Despite what is being reported, erroneously most of the time, this fight is NOT about the interests of the child. It's about government control over a parents right to freely choose what is in the best interests of their children.

Since when does the government get to butt into our lives and tell us how to run our families??

Abuse will be happening regardless of whether a child is in a public or private school.

Jumping off of my soapbox now.

~~Mama )O(

The Pace of Today

How did I spend the beginning of this week? You can listen here .

In case anyone is wondering, we are just fine out here. We haven't changed what we are doing. And we won't. If our freedom to choose our children's education ourselves, then we will move out of the state.

~~Mama

Legal Firestorm in California

The really juicy stuff I posted to my other blog. For now, I'll give you the Reader's Digest version of the latest "firestorm" in The Land of the Fruits and the Legal Nuts.

A trio of moronic, ancient and well-used-past-their-prime Appellate Court Judges have suggested--No, I'm sorry--blatantly stated--that it is unconstitutional for parents to home educate their children.

Yeah, I know. And you read that right.

You can go to my other blog to read my rant. However, be warned....you may learn things about me you might not otherwise have known. Like that I am fond of four-letter words and have a mind of my own. But then again, most of you already know that.

In the words of Bon Jovi--"Have a Nice Day".

~~)O( The Mama