Fireweed - (Epilobium augustifolium)

Love this wild flower.

There is no other flower around that evokes so much emotion and memories out of me than Fireweed.  Growing up in central Alaska this wild flower was a welcome sign each summer.  With tundra colors of moss green and brown this flower stands out and gives the land some color.  It's blooms are a reminder of how much summer we have left for when the blooms reach the top and it goes to seed summer is coming to an end.  When I see it now as I drive around Whatcom County it brings me back to my time in Alaska.  Good times, full of quiet and peacefulness, memories and family.  I'm so thankful this little weed grows in our State of Washington. 

Homeschooling

Brothers hanging out together and enjoying each others company.

This last school year was my first year schooling at home.  I was nervous at first and a little uptight about keeping order and a schedule but it became easier as the year progressed and I still managed to have a ton of fun.  I live in a pro home schooling state and a county that has a large population of homeschoolers but everywhere I go I still find people who find the subject fascinating and daunting. 

When starting a conversation about the subject I don't come out and trash the school system or state some religious reasoning.  I look the person in the eye and say "the reason I do this is because I got tired of letting the school teachers have the best hours of my kids' day and me getting the left overs."  At that moment the person I'm talking with usually relaxes, nods and realizes we have a lot in common be them parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or teacher themselves.  I also go on to explain it was difficult for my boys to build relationships with each other when they were apart all day.  It can be difficult to get along on the best day but nearly impossible if you stir in tired and cranky after school moods. 

After that conversation starter I can usually sit back and just listen to the other person talk about their experiences raising, teaching or watching children. 

I'm looking forward to our 2nd year of schooling; at home, outside, at the library, at the museum, in our community, at the beach.... you get the idea.