From a post today on The New York Times politics blog, The Caucus (emphasis mine): Will Iowa’s conservative Christians turn out in force for Mike Huckabee? ... Despite a negligible organization here last summer, Mr. Huckabee pulled off his second place finish in the Ames straw poll in August with help from the strong support of Iowa’s home-school families. It is unclear how many evangelical

my true love gave to me, ten pipers piping. Now, you have your traditional bagpipes, and your pan pipes, piping bags for decorating cakes and cookies, lead pipe cinches, and more. But some of my oldest Christmas memories involve buying my father a new pipe. One year, when my sister and I didn't have much money, it was a corncob pipe, like Frosty's, from the tobacconist/newstand on the corner

I've been meaning to write this post for several months now, which of course means I'm behind and I apologize. Penny Gardner, author of The Charlotte Mason Study Guide, who has been a long-time home educator sharing her wisdom through her writings and seminars, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Study Guide with an expanded and revised edition. Also available now is a secular version.

I had a very nice note this morning from teacher Terrell Shaw, to let me know that he has put some original poetry to my photograph of a robin's egg. As I replied to him, the kids got quite a kick out of seeing my photo accompanied by his poem; and in the midst of a Canadian winter, the idea of robins and their eggs gives me a little thrill, not to mention hope for Spring. In addition to his

then tomorrow must be the Iowa caucus. And just in time for the last leg of the horrendously expensive marathon that is American politics, suze has put together a new blog, Homeschoolers For …, with the tagline, "Because there is no such thing as 'the homeschool vote' ". Speaking of which, don't miss the lovely, talented, and funny Mrs. G.'s nifty campaign button.

From Christopher Isherwood's review yesterday of Kevin Kline's "ultimately, and happily, triumphant" year on stage: ...his Cyrano is utterly free of self-regarding, starry showboating. The quiet delicacy he brings to the role graces it with a fine sense of psychological truth. Beneath the feathered hats and slicing swordplay, Mr. Kline creates an affecting portrait of a man whose passionate

my true love, a genuine hepcat, gave to me, nine drummers drumming. #1 Gene Krupa #2 Buddy Rich #3 Art Blakey #4 Max Roach #5 Chick Webb #6 Louie Bellson #7 Kenny Clarke #8 Cozy Cole #9 Joe Morello And some jazzy extras, just for fun: #1 vs. #2 (you modern types can see it here on YouTube) #1 + #2 #2 vs. #4

Beowulf is back. Again. No, I'm not talking about the recent movie version, which came hard on the heels of the film Beowulf & Grendel (and its "making of" documentary, Wrath of Gods, which I've heard is supposed to be quite good). I was reminded by Mary Lee's recent post of a few recent items I wanted to mention. Mary Lee at her blog A Year of Reading posted a review of the two recent

have started to roll in. No, not from my panel (middle grade/young adult nonfiction) just yet -- we have a new deadline of Saturday. But here are the earlybirds: 2007 Fiction Picture Books Finalists 2007 Poetry Finalists 2007 Middle Grade Fiction Finalists 2007 Science Fiction & Fantasy Finalists

my true love gave to me, eight maids a-milking There probably aren't any dairies nowadays that use milk maids exclusively -- that would no doubt fall afoul of federal legislation -- but a surprising number in North America have begun again to offer milk in glass bottles as well as home delivery. One such outfit is the Dewitt family's Dutchmen Dairy in Sicamous, BC, whose

When I was growing up, New Year's Eve meant staying up late, eating hors d'oeuvres, knocking the bubbles out of the Champagne with a swizzle stick (what can I say? I'm a cheap date) and watching and listening to Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians from the ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria. While the song everyone remembers is their rendition of Auld Lang Syne, the one nowadays that seems most

my true love gave to me, seven swans a-swimming. Which is a delightful, restful thing to do after you've been flying around all day, especially when you were turned into a swan against your will in the first place. The fairy tale most of us know as "The Six Swans", as retold by the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen (his version is known as "The Wild Swans"), is

my true love gave to me, six geese a-laying. And when they're done laying, they sing. Or rather, chant. (Careful readers will count seven geese, not six. But look again and you'll see that goose #7 is not long for the choir, or this world.) The manuscript illumination is from Das Gänsebuch, or, The Geese Book, a medieval German chant book, illustrated by Jakob Elsner (c1460-

my true love gave to me, five gold rings. Enough with the birds already. How about some lovely old gold, including five rings found on King Tut's mummy? The website at the previous link has a children's page, "Color Me Egypt", including a link to Amira's World, a blog by a 14-year-old girl living in Luxor. (Notice how I neatly sidestepped Olympic rings and human rights

my true love gave to me, four calling birds. Apparently "calling birds" is a corruption of the original "colly" or "collie" bird, the European black bird; from the Middle English "col", or coal. And the European blackbird (Turdus merula) is really a small thrush with a melodious call, or song. I'm going to skip any recipes for blackbird pie (it probably tastes like chicken, away), in favor of

An old favorite, and something new, at least to the blog. I Heard a Bird Sing by Oliver Herford (1863-1935) I heard a bird sing In the dark of December A magical thing And sweet to remember: "We are nearer to Spring Than we were in September," I heard a bird sing In the dark of December. Time, You Old Gypsy Man by Ralph Hodgson (1871-1962) Time, you old gypsy man, Will you not stay,

my true love gave to me, three French hens #1. It's impossible to get the legendary Poulet de Bresse in North America, but we can come close with the Blue Foot Chicken. Though it's better if you don't mind when the butcher hands over a defeathered chicken with the feet and head still attached, French style. #2. Finding French chicks, however, is easier. You can get old French

(also known as Boxing Day, also known as the day Farm School residents refuse to go to town or anywhere near emporia crowded with mad shoppers. Sledding, skiing, and eating Christmas cookies and leftover popovers for breakfast, however, are all encouraged.) my true love gave to me, two turtle doves. The Turtle Dove: oil on canvas by Sophie Gengembre* Anderson (1823-1903). "

my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree. (The gifts have been unwrapped, toys are being played with, new books read, outfits admired, the doll house is being adorned with its new finery -- Santa Claus outdid himself with this one and I'll seek if I can get some photos up in the next while with mention of an amazing Canadian source -- and I'm testing out a new popover

Eighty years ago on this date, The New Yorker published this piece, still a classic (and longtime Farm School favorite), by James Thurber. A Visit from Saint Nicholas (In the Ernest Hemingway Manner) by James Thurber It was the night before Christmas. The house was very quiet. No creatures were stirring in the house. There weren't even any mice stirring. The

Oscar Peterson, the Canadian jazz piano virtuoso whose Christmas CD we played only yesterday on our tree hunting expedition, died yesterday evening of kidney failure at the age of 82. He died at home in his sleep. Many thanks, Mr. Peterson, for so many years of pleasure.

Things to do before our big extended family Christmas Eve: Bake one more braided loaf (the dough is rising) and some more cookies. And possibly an almond roca-ish candy. Wash kitchen floor (done -- ha!) Wrap Tom's presents for the kids, while they're all out this afternoon delivering Christmas cheer, baking, and cards. Which would be easier if said presents did not include the requested two

from all those photo- graphs and stories of children frolicking in the snow and -20 weather, we here at Farm School like winter. In fact, we love it! We also like the winter solstice, with the idea that more daylight is on the way (hurray!), and two of our favorite books to read on the first official day of winter (though we've been having unofficial winter fun for more than a month now) are

I've posted the first two poems before, and figured it's the time of year to visit old friends. The first poem isn't a proper poem, and I'm not a proper Jethro Tull fan. But I do like the words on the winter solstice. The Christmas poems comes from a charming Random House Pictureback holiday anthology, Diane Goode's Christmas Magic: Poems and Carols, published in 1992 and probably out of print

Not particularly Christmassy, but I'll forget entirely about posting this if I attempt to save this article from yesterday's New York Times 'til after the holidays. Here's a taste. You can read the whole thing here (registration is free or use Bug Me Not): At 71, Physics Professor Is a Web Star by Sara Rimer CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Walter H. G. Lewin, 71, a physics professor, has long had a cult