Begrudgingly Homeschooling My Son For Two Days, But Did Have The Opportunity To Do A Fun And Colourful

Begrudgingly homeschooling my son for two days, but did have the opportunity to do a fun and colourful felt drawing. RIP black marker. Here’s “Rainbow Road to the Stars.”

Hello Tumblr! Nice to meet you

Hi Tumblr, my name is Kaywin :) 

My last name starts with A, which is why my blog title is ‘kaywina’.

I joined because I’d rather not support FB and IG, but still want a place to share my thoughts, adventures, pictures, and other silly stuff with the world, even if it means just posting into the void like this introduction.

If you’re reading this and want to know a bit about me, well - 

I like to spend a lot of time outdoors, as much as possible really. I love cycling, skiing, skateboarding, swimming, and other sports.

I spend quite a bit of time poking around in the creeks and down by the river near where I live, playing my harmonica and singing to the birds and the squirrels. I think they like it!

I also like to read and write, and play games when I have the time. Mostly I like to play Nintendo and retro games. I like games that are cute and colorful best. I’ve been drawing and painting quite a bit recently, but I’m really terrible at it. Maybe I’ll share some of that in the future though... I have a young son whom I adore, and we have [edit - had :( …] a pet rat named Wagner. We live in a cozy little apartment on the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada. I think that’s about it for now! Nice to meet you, and looking forward to sharing more. All the best, -Kay

Unexpected day of homeschooling last week, so we did one of our favorite activities - “timed” drawings. 10 minutes per picture, plus an extra bonus 5 to finish up if needed. The themes this time were “Happy, Funny, and Crazy.” Always lots of fun with this activity :)

Been reading a lot of chapter books with my son, often during meal times now since the chai tea incident after which my laptop no longer turns on. That was a blessing in disguise!

The is a recent favorite - “The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown. The story is about a cute robot named Roz who gets stuck on an island and makes friend with animals by being kind and helpful. It’s sooo cute, and there are lots of opportunities to do funny voices which I love.

Also, the book deals with a lot of great themes like parenting and diversity, and there is a darker dystopian setting in the background to give it some adult appeal without ruining the lighthearted and upbeat nature of the story.

Overall, a super fun read and both my son and I enjoyed it immensely! I’m excited to have found out there’s a sequel, so that’s something to look forward to, and a great idea for a Christmas present to us both in a few months :)

Cleopatra’s Song - Between the Starlight and the Sea

I fell in love with H. Rider Haggard a couple years ago after reading “King Solomon’s Mines.” That book is credited with starting the genre later popularized by “The Lost World” but without (or at least much less of) the racism and sexism/misogyny that pervades Sir Conan Doyle’s work.

I recently read Haggard’s book “Cleopatra” and while it was a bit tough to get into, it ended strong and also contained lyrics to an incredibly beautiful song. That song has now become a staple for me when practicing voice, and I love to sing it when the opportunity arises. Here are the words:

“Night on the sea, and night upon the sky, And music in our hearts, we floated there, Lulled by the low sea voices, thou and I, And the wind’s kisses in my cloudy hair: And thou didst gaze on me and call me fair - Enfolded by the starry robe of night - And then thy singing thrilled upon the air, Voice of the heart’s desire and Love’s delight.

‘Adrift, with starlit skies above, With starlit seas below, We move with all the suns that move, With all the seas that flow; For bond or free, Earth, Sky, and Sea, Wheel with one circling will, And thy heart drifteth on to me, And only time stands still.

Between two shores of Death we drift, Behind are things forgot: Before the tide is driving swift To lands beholden not. Above, the sky is far and cold; Below, the moaning sea Sweeps o’er the loves that were of old, But, oh, Love! kiss thou me.

Ah, lonely are the ocean ways, And dangerous the deep, And frail the fairy barque that strays Above the seas asleep! Ah, toil no more at sail nor oar, We drift, or bond or free; On yon far shore the breakers roar, But, oh, Love! kiss thou me.’

“And ever as thou sangest I drew near, Then sudden silence heard our hearts that beat, For now there was an end to doubt and fear, Now passion filled my soul and led my feet; Then silent didst thou rise they love to meet, Who, sinking on thy breast, knew naught but thee, And in the happy night I kissed thee Sweet; Ah, Sweet! between the starlight and the sea.”

Ode to my little love

I love to sing and I’ve been singing songs to my son at bedtime ever since he was born. Sadly though, I can see the day coming soon when he is going to be too old to want me to sing to him anymore 😭 

I can already feel some of my favorite songs fading from memory, as I stumble over lines because I don’t recite them as often as I once did. Before I forget any more, I’d like to put these words down somewhere so that I can find them easily when I want to refresh my memory.

This song is one of my favorites. It’s an adaptation of John Dryden’s translation of a poem by the Roman lyric poet Horace (finally, my bachelor’s degree in classical studies has come in handy! lol). I’ve taken some liberties with the words to make it flow better as a song, in my opinion, and because the language in Dryden’s version is dated and a bit sexist and I didn’t really like that. 

So, for better or worse, here is my version of the Ninth Ode of the First Book of Horace, adapted from the English translation by John Dryden:

Behold yon mountain’s hoary height

Made higher with new mounds of snow

Again behold the winter’s weight

Oppress the laboring woods below

And streams like ice fetters bound

Benumbed and cramped to solid ground

With well-heaped logs dissolve the cold

And feed the genial hearth with firs

Produce the wine that makes us bold

Of sprightly wit and love inspires

For hereafter shall betide

Love, tis worth her care provide

Let she alone, with what she made

To toss and turn the world below

At her command the storms invade

The winds by her commission blow

Till with a nod she bids them cease

And calm returns, and all is peace

Tomorrow and her works defy

Lay hold upon this present hour

And snatch the pleasures passing by

To put them out of fortune’s power

Nor love nor love’s delights disdain

Whatever thou get today is gain

Secure those early morning joys

That youth un-soured with sorrow bears

Ere withering time thy taste destroys

With sickness and unwieldy years

For active sports and pleasant rest

This is the time to be possessed

The best is but this season’s test

The pointed hour of promised bliss

A pleasant whisper in the dark

A half unwanted stolen kiss

The laugh that guides thee to the mark

When the kind nymph would coyness feign

And hides but to be found again

These are the joys the gods for youth ordain