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Author and Illustrator Blogs
- Sarah N.: The language sounds delightful. I love getting to explore the interesting phrases of the past. That’s...
- Constance: I like the John Stilgoe quote! I took a course with him in college, and it was the kind of lecture that...
- Sally Thomas: We Tennessee natives are good at channeling unlikely voices . . . I can’t decide how scary that...
- Sue: I wish that *I* had a “certain exquisite reticence of the flesh!” Sounds good. Sue
- Jen Lynch: Being both a Lovelace fanatic and a Vassar girl I have read the queer little Queed. It is essentially the...
- Sara: I think I’m going to have to download Queed—after I read Carney (which I never have). When the...
- Melissa Wiley: Yes, it seems it was a quirk of my template. The post was set to be a sticky & I didn’t...
- Lauren: It’s been like that since you wrote that post. Love your blog
Every day is complicated, messy, and full of friction. And every day has glorious or cozy moments worth celebrating. I seldom bother to chronicle the friction and the mess because writing time is fleeting and precious—and childhood even more so. I’d rather capture the small joys that I might forget—or take for granted—if I don’t take time to set them down in words.
(Excerpt from
this post about Real Life, quoted here because I don't want anyone to be under the impression that things are always perfect around here! Heaven knows we are anything but. Perfect, frictionless, orderly? Nope. Happy? Most of the time!)
Be like the bird
Who, pausing in flight
On limb too slight,
Feels it give way beneath her,
Yet sings,
Knowing she has wings.
—Victor Hugo
“Exploration,” says John Stilgoe, author of
Outside Lies Magic, “is a liberal art, because it is an art that liberates, that frees, that opens away from narrowness. And it is fun.”
Yes: it is so, so much fun, and that is why I write these posts all chattery with excitement over this or that connection the kids made today. (Or that I made myself!) I know I get carried away, but that’s the point, isn’t it, that way leading on to way has carried me away?
And yet—and yet—I think we are at once ‘carried away’ and made more fully present in the now, more rooted, by these relationships between ideas about things past and future. The joy of connection makes me want to celebrate this moment, this brief encounter with wild-haired child and broad-trunked tree, bus going by, sign on church wall, Scottish warlord creeping over the tower wall and startling the English soldier’s wife who has just put her babe in arms to sleep by crooning that the Black Douglas won’t get him. Child, laughing, shouting “Dinna ye be sae sure aboot that!” across the courtyard outside the library. How can I not celebrate this freedom?
(from a post called
Way Leads on to Way)
Six Things to Include in Your Child's Day:
meaningful work
imaginative play
good books
beauty (art, music, nature)
ideas to ponder and discuss
prayer
Whence It Came
Lissa,
You sure do make my life easier — thanks for the organization … and I’m with you, low-tide is the BEST for finding the real treasures!
Blessings and a happiest of thanksgivings to you and your family — when are you coming to Denver?
Posted on November 17th, 2007 at 6:13 amDear Melissa,
Thank you for such a wonderful blog. I have been reading it for sometime now, and enjoy your updates of family life in San Diego. I am not a homeschooling mom, but I do like to pop in every now and then to take a look at homeschooling in action. I just started a new blog, and would love some new visitors. Please stop in anytime at kathleenmiller.typepad.com
Posted on November 17th, 2007 at 8:11 amGod Bless, Kathy
This is enormously helpful to me to have all these in one handy place!
Posted on November 19th, 2007 at 8:14 pmHI, I AM READING THE MARTHA YEARS RIGHT NOW AND IM ON THE 3RD BOOK ALREADY . I WAS LOOKING AT THE ARCHIVES AND IT SAID THAT THERE WAS A NOVEL IN THE WORKS .SO DOES THAT MEAN YOUR WORKING ON ANOTHER MARTHA BOOK OR ANOTHER CHAROLOTTE BOOK OR NEITHER.
Posted on November 23rd, 2007 at 10:29 amHi!
Posted on December 13th, 2007 at 8:09 amI just got done reading the martha years it’s a grate series. I just had a question,do you know what the babys name was? Thanks,
julie
Julie, the baby’s name was indeed Cora, after Grisie’s husband’s sister.
Venisa, I’m afraid the publisher’s plans for the series have changed and there will be no future books. You can read more about this decision on my books page.
Posted on March 4th, 2008 at 1:32 pmUnplug Your Kids: Wood Craft Sticks at Mind Games says:
[...] I’ve already been inspired by this week’s Unplug Your Kids project theme – wood – and I thought I’d share our impromptu creations from craft sticks today, a little early. Some weeks, I don’t even think about the theme until I see other projects posted on Monday, but other weeks, like this one, I keep the theme in the back of my head all week long. Must be high-tide homeschooling! [...]
Posted on March 11th, 2008 at 4:24 pmI love love love this page. I’m here constantly, reading and re-reading.
Posted on May 7th, 2009 at 10:02 pmHi Melissa,
Posted on June 14th, 2009 at 11:03 pmI’m a mom from Utah, and I just wanted to pass along some info that might be helpful for your son who is hearing-impaired. Check out Dr. Christopher’s work at herballegacy.com, and look at B&B tincture, and BFC ointment, and in general look for info on hearing, and about Dr. Christopher. It’s a great site. I really beleive that our spirits know how to heal and acheive their perfect form, if you will…I have heard of people making tremendous progress, even when there are challenges from birth. My own son (who has had severe respiratory problems) would not be alive, or without daily medications, without Dr. Christopher’s influence. I can’t help but recommend it; I often see your son’s smiling face on your site, and wish all the best to you and your family. I would be stingy not to say anything. I hope I haven’t been too bold. Take care! And thanks for your uplifting site. –Karen
Adventures in Lakeschooling says:
[...] are “tidal”. Tidal homeschoolers. Thank you Melissa Wiley of Here in the Bonny Glen. May a thousand sparkly stars shower your [...]
Posted on September 12th, 2009 at 6:26 am