The Unplug Challenge: Call for Ideas
Help us grow a collective “Unplug” list. Share your ideas on our Facebook page. Pass it on, and let’s see how long of a list we can create. If you have a longer story to share about “unplugging,” email it…
Device of Wonder
Way back in the fall of 2001 we made several trips to The Getty to marvel at an exhibit of fanciful machines, Devices of Wonder. Back then Søren was barely two-years-old so he made his way via a stroller. But…
The Unplug Challenge
At first the Unplug Challenge gave me laryngitis. Seriously, the vibration of my vocal chords was a jumprope snapping, “No No No No No!” The simple summer goal was to challenge my boys that low tech is fun. It began…
Da Vinci Summer III, Stitch a Tradition
I never could relate to spring cleaning. The timing just never worked out for me when Evelyn and Wesley were young. March, April, and May were busy with culminating end-of-the-year school activities. I'd say summer purging was more the thing,…
A Souvenir of Stars
This summer we’re exploring our Italian roots via an extended virtual tour. It’s such fun visiting all the places we would visit if we could really visit. Thanks to the wonder of technology, we can experience the landscape of Italy…
Discover Literature!
Blackbird & Company Literature Discovery guides are an integrated approach to mastering language arts skills. Each guide is a reading and writing journey. Our titles span a wide range of genres and represent what we believe is the best of…
Metamorphosis of a Baseball
It‘s true. I’m one of those people who do not get sports analogies. So last week, I was tickled when I noticed Søren unraveling a baseball. The activity began when he found an old ball in the ivy. He tossed…
Matisse iMadonnari
It’s become quite a tradition to usher in summer with a collective i Madonnari creation. This year’s inspiration started with “The Geranium” by Henri Matisse. From Wikipedia… The Italian I Madonnari were itinerant artists, many of whom had been brought…
Ars Poetica Banner
Last week we made an Ars Poetica banner to celebrate the year of poetry gone by and to usher in yet another Da Vinci Summer. We began by crafting a single sentence that described the very essence of a poem.…
Mom’s Day Blossom Cards
I have to say, I'm always a little proud of myself when I can scrap together a cute and do-able art project for my 5 year-old with materials I already have on hand. And since I'm not a huge fan…