Home school update

Homeschooling is challenging because as parents we are learning how to teach elementary school.  We are figuring out how to delivery content and how to structure the day.  However, due to our space constraints we face some additional challenges.  What we don't have is a desk with a way to organize our supplies, books, and other materials.

A beautifully organized drawer of a desk representative of what I WISH we had

What we do have is a kitchen table which serves every purpose (and can even transform to a bed if needed).  Get it out, clean it up, get it out, clean it up....repeat... So this is not ideal, but then add the distraction an active, three-year-old little sister might cause (I mean, hypothetically, right?).  Yeah, so a two hour lesson becomes a 4+ hour session with many breaks and attempts to refocus...it's really wearing on the "teaching staff."  So...effective this week we are building in some trips to the library where we can create a space for focus. 

On the flip side, let's talk about our second child who has not received the one-on-one attention our first born did (sound familiar to any other parents?).  Is it really fair to create a space for Brother without considering what she needs at this point?  So, by dividing the class we are able to each spend some valuable time with each kiddo and I think this is going to be a big turning point for our success in this endeavor.  On Monday when I stayed with Sister we worked on her preschool workbook pages, we read books and we laughed together.  She was so happy to receive my full attention - it was a good day.  The ironic part was that we only had about 40 minutes because it turned out the library was closed for President's Day - so Brother didn't get his focus time after all...he had to come back to the Hideout and complete his work as usual.  Next library trip is scheduled for Friday.

An organized table of school supplies that is not representative of our set-up.
Our supplies are kept in the bench belonging to the kitchen table and we have to open up the bench often to get things out.

Regarding the curriculum - Moving Beyond the Page - we have mixed feelings.  We just finished a language arts unit which was centered on The Lion, The Witch, and Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis) which led to some interesting discussions about Christianity.  Before that we read a historical fiction book called Ben and Me (by Robert Lawson about Benjamin Franklin and his mouse Amos)...which was a little hard to get through with all the fictional mouse drama.  However the science lessons on Electricity and Magnetism were awesome and we did some cool experiments.  We are starting a civics lesson which will explore government and we have another science unit on Forces of Nature that is paired with the BFG (Roald Dahl) - something he has previously read twice.  We bought cirriculum for 8-10 year olds (Brother turned 8 in December) and we thought some of the LA concepts were too difficult for him - though we see growth/improvement in his work, which is awesome.  We purchased a quarter of a school year worth of curriculum and are considering whether to go with the same level, change the level, or go in a different direction...choices choices!

"...only the yard changes"

The title was from a sticker I saw on an RV, "Home stays the same, only the yard changes."  I thought it was apt for this post.

We've been looking for other possible parks over the past week.  In addition to cost considerations, I've wanted a place that is a bit more kid friendly.  A playground would be awesome.  We've also considered the cost of staying in RV parks as opposed to mobile home parks.  When we thought about moving in the past we had to consider where Brother's school was in relation to "home."  Now that we are homeschooling we only have to worry about my commute to work and Husband's commute to campus for classes.  The East Valley offers a number of options which are located close to the light rail line, are reasonably priced, and it seem like they have a good, family vibe.  Our first choice does not have any immediate openings, but these things change so we are on the wait list.  In the meantime we found other communities that offer month-to-month options which seems promising.  I gave notice to our current park and they rented our spot for March, so we really are moving...the final destination has yet to be decided...stay tuned!

One thing that is annoying about these month-to-month deals is that they rarely prorate the remainder of the month and refund you if you leave before the month is up.  Also, their weekly rates are so high that if you stay 12 days into the month it is almost worth it to pay for the whole month.  I'm bummed because that is our situation for May.  We have to be in AZ for the first couple of weeks, and will have to pay the monthly rate at most of these places. 

I purchased a year subscription to AllStays on the recommendation of my favorite YouTubers. This is a handy tool because I can search the valley (and our summer locations) to look for parks that accept all ages - many of the parks are 55+ in AZ.  I didn't have that before and it was difficult sorting through all the places that wouldn't take us.  You can also refine your search by many amenities, I checked out parks with pools & playgrounds just out of curiosity (though there are not many).  You can also filter by private parks versus state campgrounds and then show only parks that have electricity (a must in the warmer months in AZ). 

RVegan Favorite Recipes Edition

It's been a while since I wrote about our grub.  Recently we have been making our favorites and I thought I would share them.  Today it was crockpot refried beans, which I have shared in the past.  I've long stopped eating dairy, but the kids and Husband still add shredded cheese to theirs.  We eat it as a dip on tortilla chips with fresh guacamole & salsa.  I am still, after almost eight months trying to finish off the dried pinto beans I brought with us from the McMansion!  Dang I am sick of these beans!  I've been alternating between slow-cooker pinto bean to soften them and then freezing them in 14 oz bags and making the refried beans.  I swear I still have about 7-8 pound left....that is 7-8 crockpots of beans...

With the frozen pinto beans I make another favorite crockpot recipe - Mexican Quinoa Tacos. This recipe calls for two cans of black beans, but I sub one bag of frozen pinto beans for one of the cans of black beans and it has helped me (albeit slowly) use up this seemingly neverending stock!  We love this recipe and make it often.  It takes 3-4 hours in the crockpot and most of the ingredients come from a can, so it is super easy.  We eat it in taco shells with fresh guacamole (this family eats a lot of avocados), salsa, and cheese (if you are not me).  Yum.  It makes enough for two dinners, maybe three - I love easy leftovers.  I meant to take a before and after picture but I only took the before, I had to use the picture from ChelseasMessyApron for the after. Yum.

Something else we are eating about once per week - baked potatoes!  But let me tell you that you must find a place that sells TastyBite channa masala, because it is amazing on a tater.  I shop at WinCo & Food City and both places carry these.  Actually they sell all kinds of varieties both vegan and vegetarian and we have tried them all.  Besides the channa masala, I also love the mushroom masala - there are also lentil varieties - all good.  I also bake or grill two heads of broccoli wrapped in aluminum with the potatoes for the last 20 minutes or so and then I cut up the potato, put 3/4 of a package of channa masala and then top with lots of broccoli.  When we have this for dinner we use three packages of channa masala between the four of us.  The kids love this meal.  They also add cheese to theirs (notice a pattern) but I do not and it does not need cheese.  I have added avocado and that is great when I have it.  I have also made a cashew cheese sauce, which was ok, but I really love it simple (potato, masala, and broccoli).  Here's a pic of a time I also made corn on the cob and added that to the mix!

The newest recipe we made was White Bean Artichoke Burgers and they are a keeper.  We pan fried them, but I am sure they would hold together on the grill.  They were excellent.  We made a double batch and ate them for two nights - though we have left overs for one more meal!  The kids ate them without too much fuss (the first night of a new recipe comes with a little grumbling and a very slow rate of consumption - the second night they ate them with no issues).  I spread guacamole all over both sides of the bun, we topped with tomato & red onion.  Delicious.  You have to try.  I am using the picture from AVirtualVegan, my pictures never turn out so well!  I did not stack two patties on top of each other...that would be a bit much!

I am doing very well on eating WFBP, since the beginning of the year I think there have been three days I ate animal products -  one thing I have every once in a while is a couple of eggs with hashbrowns in the morning, or an egg in pancakes.  Otherwise I am loving beans, nuts, pasta, veggies and fruits.  Life is good and eating plant foods is delicious, nourishing, guilt-free, and health promoting.   

The heat...

I want to take the kids to play in the snow.  We've done it every year - headed up the mountain for a weekend and went sledding - but it doesn't look like we will get that opportunity this year.  I even went to the local kid's exchanged and traded in last year's snow clothes for those that would fit these little giants.  By this time last year Flagstaff had 64 inches of snowfall.  This year they've had 11 and there is no snow in the forecast. 

Maybe you saw this report that Phoenix will be unlivable by 2050.  Of all the reasons to move into an RV full-time it is this - you don't want to be invested in a market where the number of 100+ degree days has increased from the historical average of 92 to over 132!  It doesn't matter how nice your house it...what is it they say?  "Location, location, location." We (desert dwellers) try to pretend that this is not the case, we crank up the air conditioners (making the situation even worse), but let's be serious - it reached 119 degrees on June 20th of 2017 - (the day we moved our remaining property from our McMansion), and that was the 4th highest temp ever recorded in the valley.  June of 2017 was also significant in that there was zero precipitation. 

Climate change refugees are already a thing - not just from third world countries, but also from the forgotten and abandoned places in the U.S. devastated by natural disasters exacerbated by climate change.  This is taking place while the city of New York sues oil companies for creating this situation.  The city of New York is also divesting $5 billion from 190 companies with fossil fuel ties.  Clearly we cannot count on our houses being safe.  For example, we have friends who lost their home to hurricane Sandy - they were subsequently crapped on by their insurance company and local jurisdiction and were not made whole.  Because Arizona offered affordable housing, they landed here.  Will we all be forced to move like nomads to avoid climate change events?  If so, living on wheels will certainly make it easier - though I agree that it would be preferable to be able to move my home without the use of fossil fuels.  Though, if we could move infrequently, following weather that allows us freedom from heating or cooling, we may end up having a lesser carbon footprint than many households. 

On that note, our solar system has been ordered!  Much of the first month of our journey out of the heat this summer will be spent in "unimproved" campgrounds - meaning we will not have hook-ups, but will have to rely on our solar system, propane, and hauled water.  In the RV world, this is called "boondocking" and we have not yet experienced this.  We will not have the ability to use our air conditioning when we are boondocking.  Boondocking can be very cheap (or free), if staying on BLM land, WalMart parking lots, or other RV friendly overnight locations.  While I have made reservations in National Parks, we have some flexibility in our schedule to also seek out true, free, boondocking spots while running from the extreme heat of climate change.

'Less is more' and other maxims...

Brother just finished a language arts unit that included a historical fiction tale about the life and times of Benjamin Franklin.  The lesson was integrated with a science unit on electricity and magnetism.  Overall it's been fun.  However, Franklin's maxims are sometimes difficult for a kiddo to understand - well, some of them are, but not "waste not want not."  Which seems to be our family mantra these past eight months.  We do, after all, display "Want Not" by Laura Wacha in our tiny home.

To me it means that we should treat all of our resources as precious - we should cultivate and care for what we have and we should not take anything for granted.  If you take care of what you have you will not be in a state of want.  Most significantly this applies to our bodies and our health.  I am so very thankful for my health and the health of my family and I want to do all I can to preserve it.  This means being very deliberate in decisions about what I eat - and what I don't drink (It's been over a month now that I have embraced a teetotaler practice).  It's not that I am denying myself - it is the opposite, I am not wasting my health on frivolity and hedonism.  I am also not wasting my resources (money & time) on junk that does not preserve or enhance my health.

I've struggled with this stuff - overindulgence, overeating, obesity, chronic disease - but insofar as I have it in my power to change course I want that.  It would be so easy if our environment supported the choices we are making...I mean I live in the middle of a college town.  The closest "store" is a liquor store and one of my favorite breweries is less than a mile from here...

On the flip side, I can feel myself getting healthier.  I have continued to lose weight, I have given away clothes that are too big for me.  My skin is clearing up - I realize now that I have probably always been affected by dairy in a negative way - a rash on my upper arms that I have had since my youth has significantly cleared.  By avoiding animal products and seeking plant-based nutrition it seems my body is healing itself - it finally has the right nutrients to repair the damage I have done over a life of poor choices.

The kids are positively affected by my choices.  Their favorite snacks are apples with natural peanut butter, freshly smashed avocado and tortilla chips, carrots, orange peppers, bananas and unsweetened applesauce.  For dinner tonight we had sesame peanut butter mung bean vermicelli.  They both cleaned their plates.  I put crazy vegan veggie stuff in front of them every day and they eat it all.  When I chop veggies for a recipe, I have to tell them, "no, sorry no more carrots or broccoli, I need it for my recipe!  Anyhow...waste not, want not. 

t minus 14 weeks! & balance

Holy cow people, this thing is happening in 14 weeks, or to put in another way, 3 months and two weeks!  After so much planning and scheming and then living FT in the Hideout since June of last year we will finally be hitting the road!  It seems so near when I consider that I just completed my 4th week of the semester out of 15 weeks (add on finals week and the week of commencement, which I will be attending) and that gets us through the second week of May when we will launch our 6000 mile journey across these great United States.  National Parks, here we come!

Today on my light rail commute I was reflecting on what it means to live in balance.  Actually, let me rewind to a earlier events that set my thoughts in motion.  For the past few years I have let my hair return to its natural color - gray.  I am 41, but my hair wants people to think I am more "distinguished."  I've worn my hair up in a bun or clip for years, but I finally went and got a decent hair cut and have been wearing it down for the past couple of weeks.  The result is that I have received some compliments - which seemed genuine and made me feel good.  It is always nice to receive a compliment, especially about something one is unsure or insecure about.  I have been insecure about my hair for some time not because I think it looks bad, but rather I know it is not what is expected of me, a woman of 41.  I don't think I know any other women my age or younger who don't dye their hair (if I do - please remind me because then I will feel we are kindred spirits).  Oh, did I mention that I don't wear any makeup or get my nails done?  Right, there is that too.  Between the hair, nails, and "face" I'm an anomaly.   But here is the thing - I feel content and even pleased with my appearance when I am among those I love - it is the world, the workplace, the stores, the television, the social pressures that make me feel incomplete, inadequate, or less of a woman.  It is absolutely absurd I have told myself many times, but that doesn't change the fact that when I see a well-put-together woman with highlights, nails, face...I just don't measure up.  But why do we do this to ourselves?  Well there is money to be made and it has to be made.  We must be made to feel incomplete so that we buy the things that are sold for that purpose.  Of course we could live completely happy and even liberated existences without these absurd demands on our time and money - but then money wouldn't be made by the people that need to make the money.  Also, the stuff wouldn't be purchased and, well, we all know what that means - there would be stuff to buy.

Or are we living in a hyper-reality that is not of our own making or choice?  What if we just decided, as I have decided, to just not buy that stuff?  What if we defined ourselves as perfect as we are?  What if we didn't agree with the mythology of advertising?  What items do you purchase because it is what is expected of you?  Are you sure that the $5/bottle of shampoo works better than the $1/bottle of shampoo?  Soap?  Razors? Cleaning supplies....the list is practically endless.  And this is how I started thinking about living life "in balance."  What is balance other than walking the fine line between expectations and freedom while following your bliss?  Because I also realized something else...pretty much all addictive behavior from overeating to opioid addiction is a result of living out of balance.  If you aren't being true to you, if you don't know who you are, what you want, and where you're going - it is likely that you are living someone else's life (the life that others expect you to live).  Our challenge as humans is to discover for ourselves what it means to live our own lives, to define our boundaries, and to find our balance.