Indians, Art, and Friends…

What a week!† We have been doing anything butHOME“schooling.†† I love this opportunity to teach Kei at home in the real world.† September, October and November are the best months for finding cool things to do.

Friday we went to the Oka Kapassa Festival.† Oka Kapassa, a special Native American gathering, is held in Spring Park, Tuscumbia, Alabama to celebrate the culture and traditions of American Indians who once thrived in north Alabama.† Friday was Kid’s Day and also opened to the general public.† There were school children everywhere, most in matching shirts and standing in lines.† Did I mention I love homeschooling?

Homemade Dolls in Native American Clothing
He made beautiful things from shells...and takes Master Card and Visa!
I wish you could "Hear" this dance...the women have on turtles shells or tin cans with pebbles inside. Only the males 'chant'
She used tin cans. Did you know that Pet Milk cans have been around since the 1800's?
Kei watching the Dance
Kei was all giggly with this guys 'ball headdress'
Beautiful dancers
The children's dances were so great

This man said the coolest thing to Kei.† The PS kids moved from station to station while we just wandered around.† After a group left Kei sat down and said ‘hello’ to this man, Freeman Owle [isn’t that the greatest name???].† Then he asked her and her friends where they were from and they all said something different.† Kei said, “We are homeschooled” and he said “I KNEW you were homeschooled when you sat down and said ‘hello’.”† Come to find out he is a PS teacher who left to homeschool his kids until they graduated.† We heard stories all day about homeschool kids.† The lady who led the dancers homeschooled her children.† The Park Ranger who showed the animal skins homeschooled her kids…it was just a homeschooling lovefest. 🙂

Indian Story Teller

 

Lunch with great friends...

 

This was so cool! All the dancers got the kids out in a huge field and did an Indian Dance. It was very 'hokey pokey turn yourself around' in an Indian sorta way. Kei loved it.
Kei with one of her favorite dancers. She laughed about how authentic her costume was with a Dr. Pepper bottle. 🙂
This was AMAZING. The man had over 50 hoops going all over the place. The little boy is his grandson and he was just beaming. It was so beautiful.

Kei with Hoop Dancers...Grandfather and Grandson
Animal skins...Kei was delighted about the furs and horrified that they were dead
There was playing at the Falls and posing on a rock.
And the Mommy and Kei shot. 🙂
They called this, "How many Homeschoolers Can you Fit on A Tire Swing"
I wish you could really 'see' all of this. Hundreds of children and Indian dancers holding hands and weaving all around the area. In and out like snakes. It was so beautiful.
Our awesome kids

It was a great day.† The weather was perfect, the sky was beautiful, there were costumes and music and laughter and learning and friends.† On the way there and back Kei and I listened to “The Hunger Games” which we are L O V I N G!†

Saturday we woke up early to go to the Athens Art on the Square.† We go to this every year.† Athens courthouse is beautiful and it is a true center of a square.† We love downtown Athens and visit there often.† Saturday they had tons of artist from all over.† Ahhh I wish I was rich.

There was hula hooping. The instructor was amazing. She could hula hoop doing ANYTHING! She also made her own hula hoops. We talked a bit about a day class for our homeschoolers. Sounded interesting.
Do you see the picture in the left side? Red brick background with 2 little girls getting water? The artist told us he saw that really happen in 1959. In case you can't see the fountains are marked "White" and "Colored" but the little girls are drinking from the 'wrong' ones. What an amazing picture. I loved it so much.
We loved all of this lady's things. She told us she made all the shawls on a homemade loom with nails. Kei and I are already researching how to make one.† I told Kei that Karisma probably knew how to make things like this!
Kei loved this too. It reminded both of us of our friends Helena and Karisma over in Oz. I just love saying that..."Oz" 🙂
This is ONE bedazzled carrousel horse. Ok I know it isn't really BEDAZZLED, but isn't it tre's cool?
This is for Jessica. It is called "Strawberry Fields" I wish I could have gotten a better shot. It has all 4 Beatles on it and the lyrics down the handle.
Look at this! I wish I was this creative.
Read this
I would have LOVED to buy this. It was made from debris from the April 27th tornado. It has the lyrics to "Sweet Home Alabama" down one side. We loved this. LOVED it.

Sunday after an amazing church service we went to visit with Kathy and Sophie.† We had a great day.† We rode around and saw their neighborhood and Sophie’s school.† She goes to private school in Huntsville.† We then went to Providence.† Providence is like a small village in a big city.† It has its own school, shops, grocery, restaurants and more.† And the houses are awesome.† You can chose from a house, a townhouse or a loft.† I promised Kei as soon as I won the lottery we are moving here!

Lunch outside at The Mellow Mushroom. What a cool, hippy place. Kei and I loved it.
Kathy and I enjoying lunch. We have been friends forever.
After lunch we walked around and Kei and Sophie played in the fountain.

It was such a great afternoon and we left with promises to come back soon.

Now before you think we only played† this week, think again.† There were Math lessons and India and Mohammad and watching videos about India’s beginnings.† There was Science and writing and grammar and book reading and play rehearsal and timelines and lizards and reading parables and so much more.† It is amazing what you can accomplish when you aren’t in a brick school for 8+ hours a day.

 

Homeschooling Rocks!

Karen

“I have used the words “home schooling” to describe the process by which children grow and learn in the world without going ….to schools, because those words are familiar and quickly understood. But in one very important sense they are misleading. What is most important and valuable about the home as a base for children’s growth in the word is not that it is a better school than the schools but that it isn’t a school at all. “

~John Holt~ Teach Your Own
 

11 thoughts on “Indians, Art, and Friends…”

  1. I had never liked school because of waking up early in morning and never got practicle knowledge/reasons of the maths, science and other subjects. How many maths or physics teachers (and you), you are assuming, know the reason behind the value of PI to be 3.1415 It seems that students go to schools just to make attendance. They also have to attend coaching classes because schools are never providing good teaching of all subjects. Home schooling may not be a good approach but better than schools.

  2. Karen, I’m so late in responding to this beautiful post; I hope you can forgive me, dear friend. What amazing days you’ve been having!! I love your homeschool and life adventures. Love the love, spirit and joy behind every single word. Your photos capture your days so beautifullyóI especially love the shot of you and Kei.

    Thank you for thinking of us over here. I think of you both often. TRULY. Sending you love and smiles, lots and big, from over the sea.

  3. Sounds like so much fun! I love all the art pics. And the dancers. I can’t pick a favorite–it’s all so cool!

    “Matching t-shirts and standing in lines…” Two of my biggest pet peeves! I remember hating school field trips as a kid. I would almost rather stay in the classroom than go someplace really cool…only to wait for everything, stay with the group, and get yelled at by teachers, etc. So glad your daughter got to experience these amazing things on her own terms!

  4. where do i begin?? a love a good home-school-love-fest! and art made from such a historic tragedy… a great reminder to not take life for granted, for sure. kei looks like she’s have so much fun. great job, mom!! i enjoyed catching up with you. and, yes, i wish we all lived closer, too. our girls would get along splendidly. 😉

  5. you said it best… homeschooling rocks!

    Wish I had it to do all over again. I’d have savored it more. Went too fast.

  6. Great photos. I love the artwork of the two girls and the brick wall. It seems that you accomplish A LOT during your school time! YOU GO HOMESCHOOL GIRLS!! 🙂

    Donna

  7. Awwww…..that guitar is awesome! I would love to hang it in my dining room where we gather every morning. I am touched that you thought of us.

    This looks like my kind of day. Surrounded by culture, by beauty, by artistry, by music, by friends, by love. Perfection.

    Kei is beautiful. And happy. And she knows that she is surrounded by friends, family and encompassed in their love.

    How blessed we are!

  8. I hope you bought that hat? Its awesome! And I don’t know how to make it on a loom but could probably knit or crochet something similar. 🙂 Everything sounds so amazing! I would have loved to attend both the art day and the Indian festival. Right up my ally! 🙂 Gorgeous shots as usual! Thanks for sharing lovely! I always enjoy reading about your adventures. Hugs xoxoxox

  9. Sounds like a great time and awesome photos! I love that all of those people homeschooled and the man realized the kids were homeschooled because they started the conversation with ‘hello’–so true!

    I love the hat Kei tried on too!

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