::: oh no, i see a spider web and it's me in the middle :::

Since the girls are home again, and Monet is at school, we're back to our regular (what's that?) schedule with small chores, breakfast and Ambleside in the morning. We also began using Teaching Textbooks CDs on the computer for Sweetheart (age 10) and I've ordered Math U See for The Baby (who desperately needs a new pseudonym--any suggestions?) and am looking forward to getting started with that. The girls are also working on Explode the Code and Getty-Dubay handwriting. Sweetheart is continuing her work with Wordly Wise and some map reading workbooks.

On the brick-and-mortar school front regarding Monet...::sigh::. Another day, another argument. I received an e-mail from his history teacher saying that Monet is "doing well" on his tests but he's not turning in his homework. I have a simple explanation for that; he's not doing it. We have a major discussion about this every.single.night. Do any of you have any suggestions for motivating a teen to do his homework, or should we just back off and let him deal with whatever consequences that come with his actions (or lack of)? I do not want to sacrifice my relationship with my son over homework, yet I want him to gain discipline and get the most of this amazing education he's been given the opportunity to receive.

This week is going to be quite a busy one. Cleaning for a houseconcert on Friday night, soccer game tomorrow night, going to a play on Wednesday evening, making applesauce with Jill on Thursday, parent/teacher conferences on Thursday evening (and another soccer game), Shakespeare play on Friday morning, houseconcert Friday night, and then travel to PA for an open house for Houdin's training at the discipleship center on Saturday morning, before the rooster crows. I'm feeling more and more that I'm beginning to stretch myself too thin again with things like picking up the soccer sandwiches and houseconcerts and parent/teacher conferences. My doggone tomatoes are rotting on the vines, dangit, because I've been too flippin' busy to get them picked and processed.

For tomorrow: look for a review of the soon-to-be-released newest book by Donald Miller, including the chance to win a copy.

Hosting Houseconcerts

One of the dreams that we had as we hoped and planned for our future home was to gather people from every corner to listen to live music in our living room. It was a dream that began way, way back when Bard was a tiny child and I started looking for venues where we could host live concerts as part of a branch of our then-church. That church wasn't very supportive of my vision, and, eventually, we found ourselves leaving not only the church but making a home in a whole new community.

It was then that our dream of building a home came true. With a lot of cooperation from friends and a lot of hard work and perseverance, we were able to build a house that could not only house our growing family, but our love of gathering as well.

So, for the past several years, we have hosted several houseconcerts--musicians from all different genres and geographic locations--and have welcomed guests from nearby and far away. The musicians bring their unique style and feel, and the guests bring food and applause, and I get to sit on my couch, surrounded by creativity, inspiration, good friends and candles, and pinch myself, wondering if this is all really happening.

Tonight, we will welcome our very first female solo performers, Jan Krist and Kitty Donohoe for a small, intimate houseconcert on this snowy day. We'll all snuggle in and pinch ourselves. Maybe we'll even get snowed in and we'll all have to share this big house long into the night.

When things are kind of rough, and times are a bit frustrating, I remember that this was a dream that God brought to fruition, and I find myself amazed.

You can look at The Sprouted Acorn website for information on upcoming concerts this year. If you find yourself in our area, stop in and say hi, and we can share this big house--and the dream--with each other.

Preparing for Pierce

I'm exhausted but wide awake. This time tomorrow evening, I'll be basking in the afterglow of our March houseconcert--Pierce Pettis.

I'm so thrilled to host Pierce at The Sprouted Acorn--honored that he'd say "yes" to such a small venue when people of less stature than he have said no. Maybe it will help us get our foot in the door elsewhere. Bring some good music to this sleepy 5,000 horse town.

And the numbers will help, too. As of now, the count is at about 66 guests. Sixty-six! That's a whole lotta people milling around my kitchen, ya know? I'm really looking forward.

The cheesecakes are in various stages of done-ness. Fifteen-year-old Houdin made two--a milk chocolate oreo crust cheesecake and a turtle cheesecake, and I made a caramel cashew cheesecake and a chocolate cherry cheesecake, with cherries actually baked in between layers of cheesecake. Tomorrow it will be time to make my electric roaster full of lentil soup, prepare the cabin for Pierce's overnight stay, and get ready for a rush of people.

It's been a lot of work. It still will be a lot of work. But it's something I enjoy. I often wonder if I could make a living doing this houseconcert thing. Would people come? Could we make any money? Right now, 100% of ticket sales go to the artist, and we lose money every time--with food, paper products, coffee, preparing for the day, etc. But the family enjoys it, and I'm always completely floored when I sit on my couch and watch these amazing musicians fill my home with their incredible sounds.

I have to sleep. I need to sleep. Do I want to sleep? Of course not. But once I get there, I'll be glad I did.