Garden Art Birthday Party

A few months back I prompted my daughter to begin brainstorming ideas for her upcoming birthday. This particular party was special because she was transitioning into the realm of the teens. She searched ideas on the WWW but none really called out and said this is the one for me.  She picked my brain late at night during one of our giggle sessions in her room and asked what my birthdays were like growing up as a kid.

I had a captive audience and the stories of birthdays past brought up tales of family, friends, food and knowing you were loved by the efforts your parents put into the festivities. Most of my young girl parties were held at home and the guests not only included my friends but their parents and few of my favorite teachers. These people knew how to party! We would eat, play games, talk for hours and just love being together. As I got older, my parents would let me invite a friend or two out to a fancy restaurant. One of my most memorable birthdays was held at Gashos of Japan where the chef cooked on a teppanyaki grill and playing with your food was the theme of the evening.

I told her I would make her party happen but she had to tell me what appealed to her. Being on the cusp of a more mature age, it was hard to decide what kind of celebration to plan. She chose our traditional at home party. 

She has been interested in Art, Design and the Renaissance period, so she morphed those qualities together and came up with a 'Garden Art Party'. Having a January birthday wasn't going to stop her from experiencing the assets of Spring. She designed everything from her invitation, the crafts the girls would do together,  the cake setting and the decorations.  

I have to smile with pride at the execution of her idea and as a helper and observer of the event, I say she pulled off quite a successful party. Girls were chatting, giggling, working together on their crafts. A few parents even stayed for a little bit and chatted too.  It was a gathering to celebrate Alex but also a way to bring together friends and let them know they mean something to her as well.

Maybe you are looking for a fun, pre-teen party idea that emphasizes relationships are important. My daughter's Garden Art Party idea may just work for you. See below for the ideas she came up with. 

Thirteen
Photo By: Chandra Brown

Alex's Garden Art Party

Floral Crowns

Materials:

• Bachelor Button or Rose type flower head (6-9 florets)
• Braided Nylon Twine or Jute
• Butterfly (optional)
• Hot Glue Gun
• Ruler
• Ribbon (optional)

Instructions: Cut three strands of nylon twine. We chose to make the strands 30 inches long.  Tie a knot at about 6-7 inches at one end of the 3 ply strand. Braid the strands until you reach about 14 inches and then tie off the end to secure braid. Arrange the braided part of the crown as desired with florets and butterfly. Adhere with the glue gun.

Art

Materials: (Note: We chose markers because they are easy clean up)

• Canvas
• Pencil
• Markers
• 
  
  

  

  Art by Alex Brown

Decorations

Materials:

• Cupcake Paper Cups (various sizes)
• String
• Brown Paper Bag 
• Black Marker
• Tape

Instructions: Take four cupcake cups, stick finger in the middle of each paper cup and crunch down sides of paper on your finger, causing the paper cup to bunch up. Stack the four cups within each other, glue each cup individually to the paper cup behind it. You now have a Cupcake Flower. Arrange as desired.

Take the paper bag and cut out triangles to make a message banner. Decorate with a message as you choose.

Alex took white yarn and strung it along the wall. She attached the banner and flowers as she saw fit.

Cupcake Flower Pot With Flower

Materials:

• Small Terra Cotta Pots (Natural or Acrylic Paint any color you choose)
• Cake Mix with Cupcake Baking Cups (standard size cups)
• Tissue Paper (any color you choose)
• Pipe Cleaner (green)
• Card Stock Paper

Instructions: If painting terra cotta pots, paint at least a day ahead. 

Bake cupcakes. We chose chocolate because we LOVE it, but also because it looks like dirt. You can use the terra cotta pots in their natural (lead-free) form to bake the cupcakes in, but we liked using the cupcake baking cups to help make the clean-up easy. They also sit nicely inside the terra cotta pot and lift right out.

Take half of a green pipe cleaner and bend the top portion (about 1/4 of an inch) to create the flowers nub. This will also act as a stop and keep the tissue petals from falling off of that end of the stem. Take tissue paper and cut out 4-6 circles of paper. Size the circle to about the same size of the terra cotta pot opening. Take all the cut tissue paper pieces and use the end of the green pipe cleaner to poke a hole in the middle of the circle center. Push tissue up pipe cleaner to the nub and squish the paper so the petals look like a carnation when finished. Add a small circle of card stock grade paper under the petals to help support and keep from falling off pipe cleaners.

Once the paper flowers are made, gently push the stem into the cupcake for the finished flower growing in a pot look.

All Photos by Chandra Brown

The Swaddling Cloth

Christmas Greetings! It's a quiet morning here in Austin, Texas. I am preparing some pecan tassies to deliver to my husband's co-workers later in the day and the air is full of anticipation for tonight's meal and gift opening. (Yes, we open gifts under the tree on the 24th, per family tradition relating to our mixed heritage of Swedes, Germans and Danes).

As you know I love reading the account of Jesus' birth every year. I especially love Luke's detailed account. He states in Chapter 1 Verse 3 how he took extreme care and investigated each detail, handling the text with meaningful and orderly arrangement. Those attention to details tend to accompany someone with the skill set of a physician. Luke was also educated in Greek culture and as the original text indicates wrote the book in the Classical Greek language.

Let me take a side step here and mention something that caught my attention when I was reading an article about Jesus' birth. It stated that the swaddling cloth mentioned in Luke chapter 2, verse 7 and 12 was a foreshadow of the event of Jesus' death and burial. I thought this interesting and decided to research a little more into this claim. There are many events where prophetic events can have two meanings in the Bible. I could see how this could be true but I couldn't take it at face value. I had to see what the Greek word Luke used for 'cloth' was in this passage. Something I think Luke would have done.

The Newborn King By: Waiting For The World

I'm glad I did. The term Luke chose and undoubtedly chose, in my mind, due to his historian's skeptical eye, was 'SPARGANOO'. This word means to CLOTHE in strips of cloth. Burial 'clothes' uses different terms entirely. 'ENTULISSO' and 'SINDON' refer to the wrapping of a body for burial.

Some state that 'Sparganoo' could still lend to the meaning of grave clothes meant for burial. I tend to disagree with this statement due to the fact the custom of wrapping newborns was detailed as a normal part of the birth process in an Old Testament passage referring to the detailed procedure of newborn care including, wrapping a baby in cloths. Ezekiel 16:4. (The Hebrew term for swaddling in this passage is Chothemeth , it is feminine (to close-up, to seal) connotes security. (NOTE: This particular verse is referring to the city of Jerusalem and used to make a point.)

I'm not sure the extent of Luke's experience in his occupation but I would assume he had working knowledge of the customs surrounding child birth.  I also have to take into consideration Luke's pointed effort to make it very clear in the beginning of his historical account that he took great pains to ensure the validity of the writing so Theophilus (to whom he wrote) may know with CERTAINTY the things he was taught.

It was a known custom for NEWBORN babies to be swaddled in cloths in the past and most people practice this in the present.

For instance, Luke used the term 'Entulisso and 'Sindon' when he wrote about Jesus' death and burial in Chapter 23, verse 50. Why wouldn't he have used these terms in Verse 7 and 12?

I love the specific details God gave the shepherds through His Angel. "Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for ALL people. TODAY in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

It says the Shepherd's HURRIED off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger after hearing this news. (In the same day or within a few days of hearing the news, I do know it was within the first 8 days of Jesus birth that the Shepherds found him. Luke 2:21)

When they saw Him, they spread the word concerning what they had been told about this child and all who heard it were amazed.

I just have to take Luke's statement at its' beautiful, simplistic, accurate value. The Savior of the world was wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.

To God be the Glory this Christmas Season!

Reading For Thought:

Were Jesus' Swaddling Clothes Actually Grave Clothes?

What does it mean that Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes?

Interesting: According to Midrash,  the cloths could be a foreshadow of his burial. (Myrrh, a spice is used as an anointing for burial and was given to Jesus at His birth.) I may have missed the deeper meaning. I got the peshat (simple) but not the pesher (deeper) til now. (2-12-18). I'll have to make sure by asking someone educated in this area...

My Holiday Bete Noire

Ahh, Christmas Carols. Some love them, some love to hate them. Some are superb others absurd. They are overplayed, re-made, re-mixed and regurgitated every year. There is one Christmas Carol in particular that fits all of the above descriptions and grates on my nerves no matter which way the spin doctors of Christmas music try to polish the message.

It brings the sarcastic Scrooge out in me and my verbal rants spew their dissatisfaction on the piece every time I hear it. When the offending carol plays on the radio it has caused me to fly down the stairs at lighting speed to mute the clatter, with my family's eyes opened wide asking, "what is the matter?"

"Oh, I'm glad you asked, for I'm willing to share why The Little Drummer Boy is the bane of my Christmas Holiday.

My Sentiments Exactly

First, this whole song is an anachronism of great error.  Do you remember a drummer boy in the account of Jesus' birth?

Of course, I know one can write any scenario they want in the great realm of music creativity. We have a gamut of imaginary carols in the whole Holiday music library; Rudolph, Santa, Frosty the Snowman but the Little Drummer Boy sneaks his way into the Greatest Story Ever Told and it chaps my hide.

Let's just be frank here and talk about reality. I'll set the scene just to give a proper backdrop. Mary and Joseph have a baby, they are new parents, sleep is high on their priority list. The new schedule of having a newborn demands, feeding, bathing, hushing, burping and when the sweet baby is finally asleep the parents sigh in relief and are ready for bed themselves.

Along comes the Little Drummer Boy and rat-a-tat-tats his way into their life as a gift. Come on, no parent in their right mind would nod in approval as it says Mary does in the song. If I was Mary I would tell Joseph to go find out what all that racket was and shut it up as quick as possible.

And when Joseph found out the source of the headache creating 'pa rum pum pum pum' pulse beat, he'd be a smart husband and father to pay the poor boy off and tell him to scram.

Now that the anachronism part of the song lyrics are explained let's get to the actual song. I've about had it after the first chorus of 'pa rum pum pum pum.' What kind of writer makes you listen to that over and over again?

How about throwing in a few, 'da, da da dats', or 'crash, bang booms' for the variety!

OK, I've said my two cents, I've got it out of my system. I hope you can laugh at my little Holiday Carol 'bete noire'. Heck, maybe you've got your own Christmas song pet peeve and can relate.  I'd love to here about them.

I'll end this blog post with a little Drum Punchline

What Did You Make For The Holiday?

I am looking at my hands as I type the words for this blog and my dorsum looks a twin to a plucked chickens skin. My knuckles are creased and each appendage has differing nail lengths. I'd say they have seen a swab bucket or two in their lifetime. Part of me thinks I should tend to them a little more often than I do but to be honest that's low on my priority list.

We think it's important to work with your hands here at the Brown house. Whether it is getting them dirty working in the yard, preparing food in the kitchen, repairing parts on a vehicle, fixing used and abused household apparatuses; rough and tumbled hands are esteemed.

We used our hands this Holiday to create some fun decorations to help fill time but also satiate a need to make something beautiful. It was a healthy collaboration between heart and hands.

Festive Pine Cone Holiday Craft

Photo By: Alexandra Brown

Please enjoy this simple craft in your own home, made by your own hands. Put your own twist on it and see what transpires.

We made two types: A frosted snow and a sparkle, glisten style pine cone. A materials list for both types is listed below.

Materials List

• Small, Medium and Large Pine Cones
• White Acrylic Paint
• Paint Brush
• Glue
• Glitter
• Epsom Salts
• Bowl with Lid
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Hot Glue Gun and Glue
• Newspaper

Directions: Frosted Snow Pine Cone

Protect your work surface with newspaper. Fill large bowl with about 1/2 Cup to 1 Cup of Epsom Salts. Paint tips of pine cone with white acrylic paint. Let dry. Apply glue over painted tips of pine cone, place the pine cone in the Epsom Salts bowl, place lid on top and shake. Remove lid, before removing pine cone, shake inside the bowl to remove loose salts. Set on newspaper to dry.

Directions: Sparkle and Glisten Pine Cone

Protect work surface with newspaper. Fill large bowl with glitter. (Have fun, choose any color you wish, we loved how silver looked.) Paint tips of pine cone and place inside bowl of glitter, apply lid to bowl and shake. Before removing pine cone, shake it gently inside the bowl to remove excess glitter. Lay on newspaper to dry.

Optional: Once your pine cones have dried. You can help secure the application by spray painting a satin lacquer on them OR you can just let them be. 

You can also spruce them up with bows and holly or just let them show off on their own. 

See the below pictures of where our pine cone craft took us. 

Photo By: Alexandra Brown

Photo By: Alexandra Brown

Photo By: Alexandra Brown

We hope your heart and hands create a beautiful array! 

Happy Crafting!

Remember all those bottle caps I've been saving for a crafting day escapade (archived blog post)... the craft epiphany finally made its' debut in the form of a Christmas Wreath.

YES, I'm proud!

Wreath Made and Photo By:
Chandra Brown

Let's Be Clear About Fresh Water

Have you ever had a moment when reading articles on a subject, something just doesn't sit right with you, so you read them again and stop to think about why they rubbed you the wrong way. Most of the time you can let it go and move on but this particular statement keeps nudging me in the side. It will even creep into my thoughts in order to spur me on in researching why I don't like it. So here goes my little rant on why the statement, 'fresh water is finite' irritated me enough to write about it.

First, I must clarify a few things to help give context to my reasoning on this issue. Let's start with the definition of finite.

Finite: Having limits or bounds. Synonyms: limited, determinate, fixed, restricted. "There is a finite amount of water in the system."

On the surface, the statement, 'fresh water is finite' is true. So why did these articles irritate me when they were discussing this fact.  After researching the water cycle and other science related facts about water, it hit me, it wasn't the actual statement that irritated me it was the context the statement was being used in.

Many articles subtly discussed the issue as if the last drop of fresh water was literally at the end of the barrel and mankind was on the brink of extinction. Some even vaguely mentioned population control as being a solution to our water problem. Others were a little less dramatic but used an emotional based slant for their argument to save the world. I smelled an agenda at hand by using a surface truth to manipulate an outcome.  See this article for reference. Note: I do not reject the problem solving needed in order for civilization to be responsible users of natural resources, I can just do without the fear mongering and half-truths which make you feel bad about using what God created for our benefit. I like to remind readers that God made it very clear He RENEWS (this word connotes an ongoing process) the earth, something we should rejoice in and give due respect to.

Setting agendas and politics aside, let me explain why I call it a surface truth. I call it a surface truth because there is more to the story that goes beyond finite boundaries and shows a miraculous truth so encompassing we should sit in awe of it. It's simple in it's beauty, complex in its' vast details, it is observable and plain to see, so reliable yet we can easily loose our focus on the entire truth and just focus on the surface truth which tends to lead to stagnation.

Fresh water is limited but God made a water cycle so intricate it is renewed daily, monthly, yearly. In fact, it has kept decades and centuries of populations going despite its' mis-use and abuse. I always take a stance towards being responsible and smart with what God has given us, we should always be mindful of the errors finite humans tend to succumb to concerning the natural resources God provides without fail.

Notice how I said finite humans. Water may have finite attributes but God designed and provided the water system to produce exactly what is needed in the past, present and future. An infinite God made this 'finite' system work the way He did with precision and as God tends to do, with an element of need, so the finite humans will learn to trust and follow His ways. It really is a beautiful picture of His amazing love and mercy for humankind.

I have to go off on a tangent here. When I observe the many ways in which God's system delivers fresh water to the earth I am awed by the beauty He made sure to work into His plan. Look at the many ways he shows His glory; vapor, mist, rain, sleet, snow and ice through the processes of evaporation, condensation, precipitation and transpiration where the water goes through a filtration process and comes out clean every time.  I also think of Romans 1:19-20, which states God's truth is plain for all to see through what He made, yet this is suppressed and ignored (my translation). In our day and age of Science and Nature worship, the water cycle has been one of those truths that has begun to be mishandled for ulterior purposes.

Since propaganda has its' grip on the definition of water I'd like to extend what I think of as a less muddled, closer to the whole truth definition of water.  I hope this makes things clear.

Fresh water in its pre-determined quota is infinitely renewable (despite the plethora of variances it experiences through its cycle). Fresh water is a miracle.

The definition of the word miracle according to the WWW is, "an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs." Maybe it's a stretch to some people to call fresh water a miracle but I'll let you be the judge of that. Read this well written description of the water cycle by Jeannette Walls from her book Half Broke Horses, a memoir of her families life as Ranchers (Ranchers tend to know how nature works) and you make the call.

"Sometimes over supper, when Jim got home after a storm, the kids would describe their escapades in the water and mud, and Jim would recount his vast store of water lore and water history. Once the world was nothing but water, he explained, and you wouldn't think it to look at us, but human beings were mostly water. The miraculous thing about water, he said, was that it never came to an end. All the water on the earth had been here since the beginning of time, it had just moved around rivers and lakes and oceans to clouds and rain and puddles and then sunk through the soil to underground streams, to springs, and wells, where it got drunk by people and animals and went back to rivers and lakes and oceans.

The water you kids were playing in, he said, had probably been to Africa and the North Pole. Genghis khan or Saint Peter or even Jesus himself might have drunk it. Cleopatra might have bathed in it. Crazy Horse might have watered his pony with it. Sometimes water was liquid. Sometimes it was rock hard-ice. Sometimes it was soft-snow. Sometimes it was visible but weightless- clouds. And sometimes it was completely invisible-vapor- floating up into the sky like the souls of dead people. There was nothing like water in the world, Jim said. It made the desert bloom but also turned rich bottom land into swamp. Without it we'd die, but it could also kill us, and that was why we loved it, even craved it, but also feared it. Never take water for granted, Jim said. Always cherish it. Always beware of it."

Further Reading on Water

Green Builders Journal, Water-An Infinite Or Finite Resource? by Herb Gardner

Science in the Bible: The Water Cycle by Cheri Fields

Psalms 135:7

Ecclesiastes 1:7

Ecclesiastes 11:3a

Amos 9:6b

Jeremiah 10:13

Isaiah 55:8-11

Job 36:27-28

Job 37: 16

Job 38:16

Genesis 1:1

Remember how I mentioned humans were finite? Take this into consideration, our infinite God who designed the water cycle for beneficial purposes also designed humans for a purpose. Can you guess what that purpose is? If you read my blog, the word relationship may be a clue, a relationship with eternal benefits.

THIS IS AWESOME. GOD'S PEOPLE (ISRAEL) USING HIS RESOURCE WISELY!
Must Read: Let There Be Water

Bathroom Update: Lighting and Mirrors

I'm sure every homeowner has a to-do or wish list for their home. Whether it is maintenance, re-model or high design, it takes perseverance to see the goal through. My blog post, How to Strip and Paint Your Bathroom Vanity has received the most hits over my years of writing on the fly. It was one of those Summer pet projects that helped keep a stay at home mom busy and handy woman skills from getting rusty.

I mentioned removing 'Hollywood lights' in that post because they are a design and fashion no-no. I laugh because I lived with them for five more years after giving that little tidbit of advice. I feel a bit of a hypocrite living so long with the outdated lighting eyesore. I never fail to recommend, first thing and without any doubt to my staging clients to remove these fashions relics before going on market. 

I'll confess, over the years I've thought of ways to break that darn light so I could get a new one but I'm not really the type to manipulate the situation to get my way unless there seems to be a perfect opportunity for the situation to be dealt with in a logical manner, so I used my birthday as my persuasion tool to pitch the idea of ridding the distasteful lighting bar to my husband. We both live under the 'if it isn't broke, don't fix it' standard but alas, my duplicity had to come to an end. 

I said, "I don't need to go out for my birthday or even have a party or a gift, I just want that flagrant lighting that blights my view gone." This proposition made sense, I told my husband what I wanted and he delivered, easy-peasy for both parties. I think I like this particular type of persuasion and keep this notion ready for future birthdays.

The Update

The fact is, our master bathroom needs a total overhaul. Until that happens I updated using a new wall paint, mirrors and a brushed nickel towel bar and ring. I also re-caulked the shower, tub and sink vanity to help give a clean, fresh look sans mildew.

BEFORE
By: Chandra Brown

AFTER:UPDATE
By: Chandra Brown

The current trends are calling for contemporary modes. So I changed the paint from the outdated blue hue to a classic grey. I removed the builder grade, original mirror that had de-silvered edges and installed in-expensive, thick, natural, wood toned framed mirrors with grey undertones. The brushed nickel towel bar and ring defines the transitional style which helps mix the contemporary with traditional.

I didn't change the chocolate brown vanity cabinets I originally did five years ago. They still look great...

We decided to wait on the sink vanity faucets for budgetary purposes and yes, the ones we have in place are also a design and fashion no-no. 

Let's just say next years birthday persuasion will be announced with anticipated gusto unless a mysterious calamity befalls the faucets before then. (He He!)

P.S.

I did re-purpose those old Hollywood light bulbs in the new lighting bar. 

Home School Seventh Grade

Last year gave us a variety of obstacles to overcome. Learning curves, growth spurts, health dilemmas all crammed into the schedule along with academic pursuits.  Sixth grade, the year can be summed up in two words; boot camp. It did some butt kicking and yes, as I posted in the early part of our home school adventure (5th grade), we had some bruises to show for it. A great military hero helps us put 6th grade into perspective, "The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat." Marcinko, Rogue Warrior.  Goes along with that wonderfully true phrase, "no pain, no gain."

The sixth grade year put us through its training and toughened us up a bit. The effects were resounding to the point it made us re-work our strategy and make some well-planned changes for a smooth transition into the next year.

So here we are 7th grade, we have an idea of what you want and expect from us. We re-vamped our school room for operational success. We took extreme measures with our organizational tools, scouted the academic territory and came back with some helpful intel. Added a well-planned recreation outlet to de-stress and started off this year strong.

Off Topic But Still Relates 

There are some interesting topics I run across in our homeschooling adventure. I always wonder if others 'see' the same things I do or what their perspective is on these issues.

Entertainment: Reading Lists

I have noticed the reading lists for kids slant towards the topics of death and spiritism. Both of these highlighted in a manner that puts them in the realm of mysticism. These topics are breached earlier and earlier in curricula. Read Lee Duigon's findings on a few books that are popular material being pushed in the entertainment industry and some in schools.

It is so important in this day and age for parents to be aware of what their child reads and be there to teach as they maneuver through heavy material.

I can only speak from my experience, these are books I have personally run into either in the school curricula or recommended for kids and have found material that is not age appropriate or needs to be handled with wisdom as your child reads them. (Maybe substitute out and find an alternative to read as an option.)

Book 1: Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
This book was required reading in Fourth grade at my daughter's public school. It is a World War II historical fiction based in Copenhagen. It depicts the life of one family dealing with separation, death and the fear that encompasses this time in history.

History is a great teaching tool, the realities of it are topics you can't dance around. It is what it is.  Children should know the truth of History. Use wisdom for your child's capacity to deal with emotional content.

My daughter felt very depressed reading this book. I also read it along with her and was uncomfortable with their focus on death.

Book 2: Paper Towns by John Green
We encountered this book this Summer. I read the summary for the book, the movie and reviews from actual readers. It was given high marks in the literary execution. We had issues with the promotion of teen sex, actions without consequences, suicide and revenge.

Life is filled with people who wrong and are wronged, yes, we can deal with it in humorous, creative ways. Life is what it is, filled with a wide range of human actions and reaction. Use wisdom for your child's capacity to deal with more adult issues involving emotional content that distracts from an academic pursuit of excellence.

I could list more books, but will refrain.

Dallas Museum of Art
Chandra and Alex
Photo: By Nathan Brown

The Question

Our family is asked quit a bit when we will be putting our daughter back in school. Or if she will be going back for high school with an air of 'won't she be missing out on life if we don't' let her go to 'school' for high school.

Read those sentences again....

My daughter IS IN school. She has a social life too, a healthy one!

I would like to clear up any misconceptions out there in the world. We know our lifestyle is different, we understand that our choice is not mainstream, we just ask for a little more respect when phrasing your question to us.

Sometimes the question is just plain curiosity but other times it is couched in thinking that somehow we are the problem, had to step out of the crowd to re-group and when we got a firm grasp of whatever it was we were lacking we'd re-enter 'normal' procedure and re-enroll our daughter to the system. We know this is not really intended but the implication comes off quite clear. I am here to say the box was meant to be stepped outside of for our family and it works for us.

For those that wonder, we do ask our daughter if she wants to re-enter the public school system at the end of every school year. We keep things open around here, we aren't totalitarian barbarians.

Her decision counts and she has chosen to HOME SCHOOL.

We appreciate it when someone doesn't ask us 'the question' but instead asks, like they do any other student, "How was your school year, are you ready for the next?"

Maybe next time someone asks when I'll be putting my daughter back in school, I'll ask when are you home schooling?


P.S.
What is it with me and bees at the beginning of the school year?  YES, I got stung by another bee today. OUCH!