Ooey-Gooey Goodness

I have so much to write about but I can't seem to put my thoughts in any particular order to write them. I have tons of ideas going through my head about various things and we're caught living in the moment right now that it is hard to sit down and put to paper (or computer) all the ooey-gooey goodness that is floating around in the various thoughts. I'll try though.

Science
I've struggled with following my heart's desire in this area because my head was so wrapped up in state/national science standards and what The Well-Trained Mind book says about science studies and how many of the homeschoolers I know that use a curriculum. After talking to some Charlotte Mason type homeschoolers and diving more into the how, why and when of science instruction & learning- we're going to let loose some. Camille wants to finish studying about Astronomy with The Space Book and I hope to formulate a loose plan based on the seasons of when is best to study what. Chemistry is now regulated to days we have to stay inside the house and I'm good with that. We don't have to study 1 field of science for an entire year, we don't have to study science in any particular order but we do have to have fun, learn as deeply as we wish to, explore and discover until our heart's content.

Books
We've found some fabulous books for our studies and honestly I can hardly contain my excitement about this. It is combining a few true loves of mine: old, beautifully written books with fabulous artwork, poetry, nature, learning about ordinary things in a new way. Sigh. Ooey-gooey goodness. I'll share more about this when all the books have arrived. From when I was about 14 years old, I have loved old books. I found Cherry Ames books in the attic of an old store in Maine while on a family vacation for 10¢ each and a beautiful volume of Alfred Lord Tennyson's poems. From that day on, I dreamt of a home library filled with beautiful old books- ones that radiated beauty from their pages, a delight for any reader. I abandoned that idea when I realized being a pastor's wife would mean moving around and the old books were more of a burden than a joy. Now I have a purpose for old books! And a reason to bubble-wrap them when we move, lol.

Other things on my mind:
- creating a new teacher's book for myself
- organizing
- scheduling chores
- figuring out Writing Aids & it's possible place in our journey
- Practical Skills, possibly Keepers/Contenders of the Faith
- Masterly Inactivity - a "fun" jar and hobbies

That's right! I'm not thinking about curriculum, researching it or anything- I am reading Charlotte Mason but that's more for inspiration in philosophy than anything else. I don't consider Keepers/Contenders of Faith as a curriculum.
We're in a good place, the best place since starting to homeschool. I am at ease with what we're doing. Sigh of relief.