Teaching Must be Fresh and Books Must be Living- Charlotte Mason

Education -

With this thought of a child to begin with, we shall perceive that whatever is stale and flat and dull to us must needs be stale and flat and dull to him, and also that there is no subject which has not a fresh and living way of approach. Are we teaching geography? The child discovers with the explorer, journeys with the traveller, receives impressions new and vivid from some other mind which is immediately receiving these impressions; not after they have been made stale and dull by a process of filtering through many intermediate minds, and have found at last their way into a little text-book. Is he learning history? His concern is not with strings of names and of dates, not with nice little reading-made-easy stories, brought down, as we mistakenly say, to the level of his comprehension; we recognise that his power of comprehension is at least equal to our own, and that it is only his ignorance of the attendant circumstances we have to deal with as luminously as we can. We take the child to the living sources of history - a child of seven is fully able to comprehend Plutarch, in Plutarch's own words (translated), without any diluting and with little explanation.

Children must have books, living books; the best are not too good for them; anything less than the best is not good enough; and if it is needful to exercise economy, let go everything that belongs to soft and luxurious living before letting go the duty of supplying the books, and the frequent changes of books, which are necessary for the constant stimulation of the child's intellectual life.

Parents and Children by Charlotte Mason, Volume 2, page 278-279

Playing with Daddy

Joy in daily life

It is wholly impossible to live according to Divine order, and to make a proper application of heavenly principles, as long as the necessary duties which each day brings seem only like a burden grievous to be borne. Not till we are ready to throw our very life's love into the troublesome little things can we be really faithful in that which is least and faithful also in much. Every day that dawns brings something to do, which can never be done as well again. We should, therefore, try to do it ungrudgingly and cheerfully. It is the Lord's own work, which He has given us as surely as He gives us daily bread. We should thank Him for it with all our hearts, as much as for any other gift. It was designed to be our life, our happiness. Instead of shirking it or hurrying over it, we should put our whole heart and soul into it.

James Reed

San Simeon Beach Camping

On our way to the central coast we made a stop in Solvang
for lunch and a Danish butter cookie.


Upon arriving to our destination, I was in awe at the
beauty of the coastal pine trees.

Garrett started our campfire early as there was a chill in the air.
This Western Scrub-Jay was first to greet us and visited often
for little handouts. James found this Pocket Gopher digging
his way up right beside our tent! The friendly little Ground Squirrels
had no fear as long as we were giving out white cheddar corn puffs.


Our favorite rocks from San Simeon State Beach.


Searching for Elephant Seals...On our first night around a campfire,
the park ranger presented a slide show with fascinating facts about
these mammals. Elephant Seals can dive down over 5,000 feet and
hold their breath for up to 2 hours!



The flowers on the beach were beautiful! We saw several
Turkey Vultures feasting on a dead seal. And...one Long-billed
Curlew.



Brother and Sister...a beautiful moment together enjoying nature.

Julia and James my little rock climbers...

These flags hang in the dining room of Hearst Castle.

A tapestry on the wall in the billiard room of Hearst Castle.

We saw wild Zebra while in the bus on our way up to Hearst Castle!

Mr. Hearst was a collector of the finest treasures from around the world.

Julia's heart shaped rock.

My little man.

My little loves.

We found Elephant Seals!

So many napping on the beach!