“Sorry about the mess.” – Han Solo, Star Wars IV: A New Hope
The house is pretty much done as of this afternoon, only shutters, corbels and the window sash that broke are left to install (when they arrive). The temperature inside the house is amazingly stable now – no 20 degree difference between the basement and the second story. The quiet was almost disconcerting for the first couple of nights after the insulation and new windows were put in – hardly any of the usual low-rubbling road noise that we’d gotten used to over the years comes in any more. I find it to be a much more relaxing house to live in than before. Not to mention that I can finally stop dusting every day without anymore construction fallout.
So, one very large check was written and is being picked up tomorrow. Another much smaller check will be written after the three remaining items are installed. There is one thing that I’m a little sad about though. Jim won’t be coming back tomorrow and that seems weird. For the past three weeks, he was here every day and I’ve kind of gotten used to him tapping on my walls and operating assorted power-tools in my garage. But, it sure is nice to be able to park in the garage again.
The duct cleaning should be (re)started and (dare I hope?) finished tomorrow. Smallish check to be written tomorrow for that. Thursday just might be a day without any contractors at our house.
Day two of seventh grade went smoothly. Tuesdays and Fridays are lighter days, curriculum wise, than Mondays and Thursdays. We’re going to be starting formal Dutch lessons again next week, Wednesday mornings. It will be a good way to spend a half day morning, before heading off to Padawan Learner’s trampoline and gymnastics class. He and I are reading Fahrenheit 451 together, discussing things as we go. Neither of us has ever read the book before, so it’s nice to see it together without one of us anticipating things or being in danger of giving something vital away.
A glimpse at some of this week’s educational feast:
History: quick historical overview to Renaissance
Science: matter and element of the week – Hydrogen
Dutch: review spelling rules & conjugation of regular verbs in the present tense
vocab o’ the week: homeschool-related words (e.g., subject names, calendar words, classroom tools)
Logic: arguing vs. having an argument (“fight fair”)
That can be a big project, and a bit of an annoyance as it’s taking place, but you should be very pleased when it’s over.