Stretch has kindly offered to help me this afternoon. By taking over a part of my lap.

Padawan Learner earned a 94% on the verbal Italian mid-term. *OMK’s breathing resumes* Written Italian mid-term is Tuesday, Energy mid-term is Thursday.  *once again, OMK involuntarily ceases to breathe*

If you’re studying pre-historic migration or creative writing, there are two things for the taking on the Watto’s Junk Shop page that you might be interested in.

In mixer combine: 4 eggs 2 cups sugar 1 T vanilla Mix until smooth and creamy

In separate bowl combine: 3/4 cup cocoa powder 1/2 cup brown rice flour 1/4 t salt

Add dry ingredients gradually to egg mixture. Mix well at medium speed (start slowly and work up to faster).

Melt 1 cup Earth Balance [...]]]> (aka – Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Brownies adopted from LaPaz’s Simple gluten-free brownie recipe)

In mixer combine:
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 T vanilla
Mix until smooth and creamy

In separate bowl combine:
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/4 t salt

Add dry ingredients gradually to egg mixture.
Mix well at medium speed (start slowly and work up to faster).

Melt 1 cup Earth Balance margarine and drizzle into batter as mixer is running.
Mix well.

Pour into greased brownie pan ( I used 9 X 13)  and bake at 350 until inserted knife comes clean. Approximately 35 minutes.

LaPaz suggests letting them cool before enjoying, but that’s just not how we work around here. I suggest eating them nearly the minute they come out of the oven.

In the mood to be my confidant? No? Too bad, you’ve already been sucked in just by reading this.

Frankly, I realized last night that I am experiencing [...]]]> Jocasta Nu: “No co-ordinates? It sounds like the kind of directions you’d get from a street tout… some old miner or Furbog trader.”
Obi-Wan: “All three actually.”
Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones

In the mood to be my confidant? No? Too bad, you’ve already been sucked in just by reading this.

Frankly, I realized last night that I am experiencing a crisis of purpose. I tried to explain it to Dad Windu but he just didn’t get what I was saying. He just wanted to fix it. That whole Mars vs. Venus thing.

In a nutshell, I just don’t know what to do with myself – in any area – right now: homeschooling/unschooling planning/activities, personal activities & hobbies, and some greater “meaning” (whatever that means). I feel somewhat like someone hit me on the head and dropped me in the middle of Prague – a nice place and all I’m sure – but I don’t know which way to turn, which road to follow, where to begin.

It’s not depression, because I’m not sad or withdrawn or anything like that; it’s just a lack of direction I think. The things I used to do  – dutch, knitting, etc – aren’t what they used to be. Are they things I did out of habit? It’s like the interest stayed in GR. Make any sense? What’s your armchair therapist take on the situation? Have any idea about which road to take? Been here yourself?

3/4 C. margarine, softened 1 C. white sugar

1/4 C. molasses 1 1/2 t. baking soda (put in 1/4 C. measure, add water to fill)

2 1/2 C. all-purpose flour 2 t. ground ginger 1 t. ground cinnamon 1/4 t. ground nutmeg (freshly ground is best) 1/4 t. ground cloves 1/4 t. salt

In a large [...]]]> Many thanks to Red Leader (aka ScoutMom) for this recipe.

3/4 C. margarine, softened
1 C. white sugar

1/4 C. molasses
1 1/2 t. baking soda (put in 1/4 C. measure, add water to fill)

2 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
2 t. ground ginger
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. ground nutmeg (freshly ground is best)
1/4 t. ground cloves
1/4 t. salt

In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and the sugar until fluffy. Stir in molasses and water/baking soda mixture, mixing at low speed until just combined. Sift or whisk together flour, salt and spices. Add gradually to the sugar/margarine mixture until combined.

Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.

Shape dough into walnut-sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Return dough to refrigerator between batches. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Cool. Eat. Not necessarily in that order.

Notes: Red Leader rolls her dough balls in additional sugar and flattens them with a fork, baking them on an ungreased cookie sheet. We prefer them unsugared. And I have a thing for parchment paper, an obsession really.

Back in the day I was a homeschooling mom, at least that’s what my tagline says. Ok, I’m still a homeschooling mom  - or eclectic, non-radical unschooling mom if you prefer that label – but it feels like I’ve let the [...]]]> “You must unlearn what you have learned.” – Yoda, Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back

Back in the day I was a homeschooling mom, at least that’s what my tagline says. Ok, I’m still a homeschooling mom  - or eclectic, non-radical unschooling mom if you prefer that label – but it feels like I’ve let the move take over my life these past couple of months. And it has, to an extent, but not exclusively. I am learning, slowly, to step away from The Schedule and let the learning happen in a more relaxed manner.

In our day to day lives, well maybe week to week lives depending on where we’re living at the moment, Padawan Learner is continuing to explore the world of geometry (which he MUCH prefers to algebra). It’s concrete and tangible and he can readily see it being used in the world around him. And for whatever reason, he loves the fact that all angles in triangle add up to 180 degrees. Simple pleasures.

PL is also nearly through reading Joy Hakim’s A History of US. He’s been going through it in fits and starts this year, but since we’ve borrowed the series he’s making work of getting it read before we leave town. She did a nice job covering the history of our land and the people who have inhabited it. And she did it in a way that doesn’t complete turn most late elementary and middle school kids off. That’s nothing to sniff at. When I read the books, it’s almost like a favored aunt is talking – conversational, informed, slightly gossipy and a bit opinionated at times. We also found overviews that were contradictory in tone and interpretation to make sure that we saw other sides to our nation’s history.

Star Wars ancillary fiction and Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series have taken pride of place in PL’s recreational reading these past few months. It would appear that the doings of Moist von Lipwig (and his none too benevolent over-seer, Lord Vetinari) are just too entertaining to put down. I spotted a new visual dictionary, LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary, the other day at the bookstore, but didn’t have time to check it out. It might not be something PL would be interested in anymore (although the fun factor might be too high to pass up), but it’s probably perfect for the younger Fanboy and Fangirl set.

Out of time for now. Just wanted to remember out-loud that there’s more to live than moving. See, I’m learning.

What happens when the highway engineers of the world get a little punch-drunk? Highway Engineer Pranks. My favorite is the Rotary Supercollider.

Since I had to change the dressing this morning anyway, I thought I might as well snap a picture of Padawan Learner’s fingernail-less finger for posterity. This will also help any future spouse understand that his propensity [...]]]> “That’s funny the damage doesn’t look as bad from out here.” – C-3PO, Star Wars IV: A New Hope

Since I had to change the dressing this morning anyway, I thought I might as well snap a picture of Padawan Learner’s fingernail-less finger for posterity. This will also help any future spouse understand that his propensity to hurt himself in exceedingly painful ways is long-standing. I’m just saying it’s handy having a doctor completing her pediatric residency living two doors down.

Click through, if you want to see the visual portion of our show today.

Before re-dressing the wound

and after