Life, Kids, Quilting
April 23, 2006 at 4:22 PM
by Ashleigh
Spring Blossom (c) Brad Meier
Well, life has been less than exciting the last week or so. We've been just going along doing really boring stuff like stripping paint off doorframes and doors and tidying up and throwing away junk etc, with the exception of a couple of things listed below.
I found out that the little girl I was supposed to start babysitting this month isn't coming to me anymore. Good thing I didn't spend the money before I earned it! I've been going to gym, eating too much though so I haven't lost anything this last couple of weeks! I bought some clothes yesterday and some bras and found this handy calculator for bra/dress size conversions. I am always confused about my bra size when I'm in the shops and generally have to look for a bra with the British sizing on it so that I know what I'm trying on. No more confusion now with the calculator :)
Brad had a Sand Sports day at work last week Wednesday which he seemed to enjoy, the kids have had swimming and football and all those things.
On Friday afternoon the weather was perfect, so we spent the afternoon in the sandpit and I stitched while they played. They made two new friends from across the road who are going to come and play every Friday with them. Their babysitter is a Carribbean English speaker who has lived here since she was 10 and is doing a course in English Proficiency so she can become an English teacher. She was pleased to have someone to converse in English with to help her improve so it looks like we'll have fun every sunny Friday.
On Wednesday I met with the 'special' teacher at Sebastian's school about his status in the class.
Seb is different from other kids in Group 2 on two accounts. Firstly, he has mild cerebral palsy affecting mostly his gross motor skills, some of his fine motor skills and tasks requiring symmetry and balance. Secondly he is reading and doing maths at an age level far beyond his peers. Our meeting was to work out how he is doing in the class and if he is stimulated enough.
Most of what she told me I already knew, like that Seb is a perfectionist and because he has motor skills problems and also wants to do things perfectly, he often gives up with more intricate tasks like writing. His perfectionism is becoming a problem as failure of any kind leads to histrionics. She instructed me to play games with him and ensure that he loses for every time he wins so that he can accept that losing *is* a natural part of life.
He's being tested over the next few weeks in the Ministry of Education's Gifted Child system. She explained to me that the tests consist of the parents and teachers filling in questionnaires and the child filling in another with the help of the psychologist. The results of all current AVI and CITO tests are also fed into the computer and either a result is given immediately based on the data or another questionnaire comes through. From the results of that they will be able to see exactly how far ahead, intellectually, he is from his peers. Once we have those details we can work out which direction to move in.
Another good thing that came of my meeting was that I managed to get Joe to take Seb's place in the class that Seb is exiting at the end of this school year! I'm so glad about it, especially as I have a good rapport with the teachers, and Joe is already familiar with the classroom and the kids in the class. I can also continue as Klasseouder (Class Parent) and as Computer Parent.
Fast forward to Friday when I was unexpectedly free of my Computer Parent duties and so could go to the quilting shop! I came out with the green fabric I needed for my exchange, plus a bundle of fat 1/8s for another project and the latest issue of Australian Country Threads magazine!
I was so pleased that they actually stock this magazine and this issue has loads of wonderful stitchery projects. I can already see projects that I can substitute cross stitched motifs in, and one of them is a wonderful hexagon patchwork bag! For a long time I had dallied about ordering some of these from the USA, and now that I've actually seen the magazine I'm going to subscribe. If you want to buy from the USA here's a source.
On a related note, I saw that Mercedes has received her quilting fabrics from Honeysuckle Cottage in Australia and I'm going to sign up for the Leanne's House Block of the Month too. It looks wonderful! Mercedes also finished the cutest Biscornu!
Project-wise, I just finished my Sampler Lady Exchange piece which was so fun to stitch and finish that I actually feel a little sad at the idea that its completed! I finished my Biscornu for the SBEBB ages ago but it needs to be posted this week at the same time as the Sampler Lady. I have two more exchanges coming up - the Friendship Exchange on the SBEBB and the Quaker QQX10 on Legacy. I know what I want to make for the latter and will wait to see who my partner is for the former. I want to share pictures but I have to wait until they've been received!
I'm working on a piece from Lynette Anderson for the Patchwork Angel in her Weekend Project series. Its not listed on the website unfortunately but I'll show you a picture when its made. I'm going to substitute some cross stitch for some of the stitchery and use a combination. I think it'll work nicely! And of course, not forgetting my Blackbird Sunflower House which is getting closer to being completed and should be done sometime soon.
And on a final note, and sorry if your credit card complains! I read on the Silver Needle website a few days ago that the publishers of Just Cross Stitch are releasing a 90 page book with several designers favourite ornaments from the last 10 years of JCS Christmas Ornaments! You can read all about it on the Silver Needle website. I know that this is a definite addition to my wishlist and I'm sure it will be to yours too!
Today's beautiful photos are two that Brad took last weekend on Easter Monday when the sun shone and spring was here for the day ;)
Comments
Hey Ash, good luck helping Seb to figure out that losing is okay. And tell me how you did it! Max would rather not try at all than risk "failure" and it's causing no end of problems with his school standing.
Your beautiful pictures make me long for the next sunny day!!
WOW sounds like you have been a busy bee just recently. I want that JCS magazine too, hopefully some money will clear through my account in the next few days and I can splurge a little.
Wow, you've been busy.
Good luck sorting out the best situation for Seb. It's tough when a child's emotional maturity and intellectual abilities are at different levels--and then throw in the cerebral palsy and I can where it's a lot for him to deal with. It sounds like his teachers and school are really committed to finding the best path for him. I'm impressed.
Ashleigh,
I can't stop looking at those blossom pics - lovely!!!
Thanks for the magazine recommendation, and good luck with Seb.
Heh! I read your title as "Life, Kids, Quitting" and wondered what could be *so* bad ?!
Let us know the outcome of the tests.. and enjoy spring - here we just had two FANTASTIC sunny days, and today - cold, wet, overcast and miserable.
-- read my blog
What gorgeous photos! A true sign of Spring :)
Good luck with Seb, it sounds like the school is being very supportive which is great news.
Enjoy your Queen's Day this weekend!
That magazine looks really good - I may look out for it. I'm beginning to get interested in patchwork after seeing your work and Mercedes'! Love the Leanne's House quilt too but thankfully it's too expensive right now or else I'd have signed up!
April 24, 2006 1:42 AM