All in all, it was a fabulous Saturday in the ATL! We love our time here and always look for reasons to make the trip over.
Adventures in the ATL: World of Coca-Cola and CNN
Adventures in the ATL: The Varsity
Adventures in the ATL: Fernbank Museum of Natural History
What a Day! What a Day!
Book #3 Girl With A Pearl Earring
Finding I have increasingly little time to read, I picked up this audio book at the library the other day. I knew Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier had been made into a movie in 2003 starring Scarlett Johansson and Colin First, but I didn’t know much about it beyond that. As it turns out, the book is a fictional account based on the painting by the same name by Dutch master Johannes Vermeer. Chevalier created a back-story to the painting, focusing on the painter and his relationship with the girl, whom she names Griet. In reality, not much is known about Vermeer, and even less is known about the girl in the painting, but Chevalier does create an interesting story, which I found to be worth the time spent reading it.
Griet is born into a close-knit, working-class family. When her father, also an artist, is blinded in an accident, the family becomes destitute. Griet is sent to be a maid in the home of Johannes Vermeer. At the Vermeer home, Griet is worked to the bone caring for six (at the time) children, Vermeer’s haughty wife, and his business partner/mother-in-law. She is forced to work with other housemaids who treat her badly. However, Vermeer himself is kind, albeit distant, to Griet. After some time, she earns his trust and is allowed to clean his art studio. Once he is comfortable with her being in his studio, she is allowed to mix his paint. Their relationship deepens, and at last he chooses to make her the subject of this now famous painting.
The story is interesting and thought-provoking. The mystery behind the real girl in the painting deepens. Although I don’t believe this book will achieve classic status (as this is what I tend to read), I do believe it was a well-written piece. There were a few racy parts that I feel were not pertinent to the story and left me wondering what they included. Besides that, I felt the book was intriguing. It’s not on my must-read list, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Friday Field Trip: APCO’s Water Course
Book #2 The Witch of Blackbird Pond
We have been studying the American colonies in history around the Hill Hang-Out, so I chose for our read-aloud book The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. I was a little hesitant at first because I wasn’t sure how far into witchcraft it would delve, nor could I be sure it didn’t involve someone being burned at the stake. I just wasn’t sure I was ready to tackle those subjects in depth with a nine-year-old is sensitive to such things. However, this beautiful story is far more about relationships and reserving our judgements than it was about witchcraft or murder.
It is the story of young Kit Tyler, a native of Barbados who, because of unfortunate circumstances, must leave her home and go to live with her family, whom she has never met, in colonial Connecticut. They are, needless to say, accustomed to a much different life than what Kit has ever know. There are many struggles and clashes as this spirited young girl learns to live within the strict Puritan ways of her Connecticut family.
She seeks escape and solitude in the meadow, where she is befriended by Hannah Tupper, a woman exiled to her home because she is believed to be a witch. This friendship, while providing solace for Kit, will eventually get her arrested and brought before the magistrate on charges that she, too, is involved in sorcery.
Although the story might sound harsh from the description, it is actually a very quaint, feel-good story that young girls will love (and so will their mamas.) It tied in perfectly with our history lesson, and it quickly became one of our favorites. When we finished it this morning, MA said, “I wish it would just keep going.” High praise, indeed!
Giveaway: Family Passes To a GREAT Homeschooling Conference
Good morning, Bloggos! Just a quick post to let you know that Darcy at http://www.my3boybarians.com/ is sponsoring a terrific giveaway on her blog. She is giving away four family passes to a fantastic homeschool convention. I plan on winning one of those passes myself, so that means there are three left for you all ๐ Winners will have their choice of attending one of the following:
- MidWest Homeschool Convention – Cincinnati, OH
- NorthEast Homeschool Convention – Philadelphia, PA
- MidSouth Homeschool Convention – Memphis, TN
- SouthEast Homeschool Convention – Greenville, SC
Head over to Darcy’s and enter to win. Hope to see you there!
Top 2010 Posts
2010 was a great year for the Hill Hang-Out. We had lots of new readers this year, and I’m so tickled you all decided to take a peek into our little lives. As you know, this blog is about a little of this and a little of that, and my most-read posts reflect that. I am nothing if not a jumbled mess of unrelated topics. “Eclectic,” I prefer to call it. Judging from the list of Hill Hang-Out posts you read most often, you are an eclectic bunch as well. Maybe that’s why we get along so well. ๐ Here are your 2010 favorites:
7. Book Review: Jesus Calling For Kids
6. This Little Lady Got A Makeover
5. The Only Thing I’m Committing To Is Being Non-Committal
2. Old Made New: Thrift Store Finds
1. Hill Preparatory Academy for Girls: Curriculum Choices
Several of these most-read posts were posted on blog linky parties, and many of my readers have come to the Hill Hang-Out from these fun events. Many thanks to Darcy and Emily for sharing their success with others!