Life as a Schoolhouse

My Essentials

2012-01-29T14:59:00.001-05:00

I recently got an email offering potentially free products should I blog about 'What's Essential'. Well, I love the products already (Nordic Naturals), and I really liked that theme. So, I'll take inspiration wherever I find it!

As a homeschooler, person of faith, and parent there are so many times throughout any given day when I question whether what we're doing is an essential part of our lives--if it's something that truly matters; something that has real value to our family. Is the curriculum we're offering challenging enough? Is the food we're eating nutritious enough? Are the programs we're involving the kids in important enough?

We find ourselves often boiling things down--trying to shake off the 'cultural stigma' that envelopes each of these questions, to strip off the layers of indoctrination that are impossible not to have. There are so many levels of baggage with somethings. For our family there is a constant evolution of removal and addition; taking away the things that aren't essential but are inherited. Often, I pick certain times in history and think, 'would Laura Ingalls have had that toy?', 'would the Israelites have spent 6 hours a day doing school work?'. Sometimes I look toward the future and consider, 'will it matter when she's 23 if she could read chapter books at age 7?'

Ultimately, these questions are just a gauge. We are not the Ingalls--no matter how much we dream. We are not living in ancient Israel, and the future is really out of our control. But, it puts things in perspective; it helps me remember that the focus, the essence of our days should be: love, joy, fun, and gratitude. Shedding everything else, if we can't laugh together at the dinner table, bake cookies for friends, dance for no reason, swing for hours, have tea parties to our hearts content, and constantly offer thanks to the Creator for the bounty of goodness in our lives...well, nothing else really matters. 2 plus 2 will equal 4 whether my three year old agrees or not, the order of the presidents will go unaltered should we save memorizing them for another day. These four words are our essential things, these are the fundamentals that we want to build our family foundation on. So, all things, from how we eat, to what we wear, to gardening and our work, how we spend our money and how we spend our weekends, they are all measured by these essentials.

If everyone spent their days focused on these 4 things, if education encompassed these ideals primarily--books second, if our nation were filled with people who craved these things over riches and power--well, that's the world I want to live in, be a part of. The most powerful way I can make it happen, that anyone can make it happen is to keep them from being secondary as they often seem to be. Imagine if they were everyone's essentials...

Planning the Plot

2012-01-22T09:04:00.002-05:00

There are 2 types of gardeners, perhaps even more. In the two I know there's the folks that look at a piece of land, want to tear it up, get their fingers as dirty as possible and plant again, and again. Some plants not doing exactly what these folks hoped, or as quickly as they'd liked, get ripped out and replaced, thrown immediately to the compost heap--no questions asked.
Then, there are folks that plant and wait. They tend the garden in a totally different fashion: they assist it, they'll water when need be and maybe even pull a 'weed' here and there, but overall they are more pleased by the organic beauty that evolves the less you interrupt. A little browning on the leaves doesn't provide this second gardener type an opportunity to remove it, but to gently nurse it knowing it could pull through--sometimes perhaps when hope really should be forsaken.

the manila envelopes hold the seeds we saved from last year's crop. our first real effort at saving our own seeds. Can't wait to see what magic they'll hold!

Our home holds both. Now, generally type 1 does the lion's share of the gardening because he is much more forward, gung-ho, up-n-at-em. So, type 1 would probably pipe in here to mention that if it was left to the type 2 gardener we wouldn't get as much produce. Well, type 2 disagrees; type 2 thinks there can be bounty in her methods.
It's in type 2's nature to let type 1 be a sort-of inseparable part of the garden--like a ceramic gnome holding a thermometer, or a glass mosaic frog slowly decaying under the sunflowers--an artifact that makes her garden what it is, she pretends things get torn out and tossed aside as a natural part of type 1's inseparability from the plot. She'll keep an extra eye out for that rare corner left alone for any given period waiting to see what magic it holds--rogue tomato plants, stray nasturtiums, unplanned marigold bushes, a come-back-kid rosemary bush...she'd rather not quit a plant. Not to say type 1 never relinquishes and allows such naive hopefulness, and not to say all 'dying' plants have miracles in store.
Neither type 1 or 2 is right or wrong, better or worse. The fact is, it may be the 2 are the perfect pair for a successful garden, and beyond.

This all comes to mind as we pull together our planting plan for the upcoming growing season. What a thrill to start back at the beginning each year. Type 1 has ordered compost, type 2 thinks our dirt could work. Type 1 wants to toss seeds from years past, type 2 thinks there's hope for them yet. Type 1 wants to restructure the garden beds to keep the raised bed boards from rotting, type 2 thinks a rotten board here and there might be romantic...

gardening in the year twenty-twelve involves an iPad. there's probably an app for that...

The list goes on and on, and though it can cause an argument here and there with these two naturally opposing types, we both still love to garden--together.

Anything like this going on in your garden?

Winter Beach Trip

2012-01-19T08:15:00.000-05:00

Thanks to one of Drew's customers we had to make a relatively impromptu trip to the coast. As of last Thursday there was no plan, but we threw something together and had a really great 'journey'--as Naomi and Leviah kept calling it. A few days in Eastern NC with nothing to do turned into 2.5 days packed full of fun, learning and even a quick visit with our naturopath/chiropractor. Not bad at all. And, can I just say that NC never ceases to amaze me? I had no idea New Bern was going to be such a beautiful place! Just when you think you know the state you live in...

First, the hotel was great (thank you Amex business card points!) The girls were thrilled to have an indoor pool, especially since swimming in the ocean was out of the question--not that they didn't stick their toes in...Naomi thought we gave up too quickly; she seemed to think if we'd just stay in the water we'd get used to it.

this turtle had his eye on leviah. we just watched this movie on netflix--a great one.

Then, thanks to our new membership at the local science center, we got in free to our favorite aquarium--sweet surprise--that has already paid for itself! Then, back to New Bern for dinner and pool time.
Sunday we spent the day walking around historic New Bern and a visit to Tryon Palace which was really neat! The guides were dressed in period clothing and it was all set-up like the Governor still lived there, I think the girls were really impressed. Though it was a little chilly, it really wasn't too bad and the sun was shining. Drew may have complained a bit, but he was raised in the South; it was late spring weather by western New York standards...barely needed a coat.

Anyway, that wore everyone out making pizza and a movie in the hotel the perfect way to round out the day. Then, home on Monday via Martin Luther King, Jr. Highway--what better way to commemorate?!

January?

2012-01-11T15:01:00.000-05:00

Today is sort of a nasty day. Still, the high is 50. Not what one would expect mid-January. Naomi wakes up every morning with a glimmer of hope in her eye--in fact, Friday of last week, before she looked out the window she convinced herself, and Leviah of course, to dress for snow. Well, it reached 60 that day, and then on Saturday we spent a lovely 70+degree afternoon at a local park hiking around, looking for signs of wildlife and enjoying an oddly warm January afternoon with a picnic lunch.

"that's a big one"--Drew

where the 'big one' snacked on some acorns.

our view looking up from our picnic lunch.

So, Naomi's dreams of snowmen seems distant. Not to say they won't happen this year, but it's feeling less and less likely as the weeks pass. We've barely had need for hats or gloves! I won't complain, we love having days where playing outside is comfortable in a light jacket, but it feels like someone is screwing with my internal seasonal clock. I like at least one good snow storm for fireplace and cocoa nights; it'd be a shame to get to March and not have enjoyed at least one night huddled together with a blanket, our warmest socks and the thrill stomping down snow covered streets surrounded by blue skies and muffling white heaps of clean white snow on the ground and branches above.

Rainy will not fill this craving. It is not acceptable winter precipitation.

In spite of it not being a Nordic winter around here, Drew has picked up the decidedly Scandinavian past time of whittling--spoons. Don't get me wrong, I love feeding little Eliza with one of these delightfully charming and rustic applewood utensils, but I can see an obsession evolving and it's a smidge unnerving...

Hello Twenty Twelve! And, A Vintage High Chair

2012-01-03T14:52:00.001-05:00

So, there's always potential that the fresh, clean, new year is full of promise. It is, as was last year. I don't want to forget or think that it's time to start over--last year was great. We had a baby, who is amazing. We, well...we had a baby. Really, anything else pales. We had fun, lots of it. Friends getting married, celebrations, holidays, business growing, vintage boothing, markets, shabbats, countless hours spent lolly-gagging and dreaming together. All in all 2011 is and was exactly what I hope every year is: joyful.

That said, there's always room for improvement. I don't have a long list of things to change, but things are always moving and shaking around here. Like rearranging furniture, there are certain habits that can use a good dusting, places that could stand a meeting with a vacuum. Our rhythm needs some fine tuning...again.

We are taking deep breaths and thinking about all this. What parts of our daily lives are important to us? What aren't? What are beneficial to our children and ourselves? What dust bunnies need to come out of hiding and where should we re-settle the furniture in the coming months? It's all in my mind.

One thing that I've determined important to me is this space. This little nook of the web where I deposit thoughts, photos, inspiration, dreams and sometimes even pain. This hidden alcove of intimate Grim moments is a sort of refuge where I know I can share something and come back to it, often I even get feedback. Though it doesn't encompass the entirety of us, it is a log of where we've been and looking over the last 3 years of postings is unspeakably meaningful for me. I thank God for the friends who encouraged me to join this 'blogging' world (and out of it), when I scroll through old posts there are bits and bobs that would be forgotten if not documented. A million pictures can't always express the thoughts that go with them...So, my hope is to be more diligent and focused with this space. Maybe a little more frequent, a little more personal, a little more of the kids...that's a goal.

I'm not entirely sure how well I mesh my vintage life with this blog, but I sell vintage stuff. It's a habit that can really help give us some extra money and it's been growing, particularly these last few months. Well, if you come to my house you'll see quickly that vintage is more than something I sell, it's something I've surrounded our family in (sometimes we're bursting at the seams with inventory!). Decor, furniture, clothing...there are a lot of ladies like me out there, filling their homes with goods that aren't new, but come pre-loved, broken in and somewhat free of the guilt of consumerism.

For example, we needed a new high chair. We bought one for Naomi at Ikea SEVEN! years ago. well, the tray broke, the plastic is grubby, the buckle frayed and fell off--hardly a stand-the-test-of-time article. So, instead of rebuying one from Ikea, I did a little hunting. It was inconvenient and required the compliance of my parents who picked it up for me, and the lady in Raleigh who was willing to take it out of her way...but, we have a superbly adorable high chair that has years on our cheap Ikea one, and will be adorable long beyond Eliza is through. It's fantastic, (and it was cheap), and I just have to share a picture...

This is most definitely something a little ordinary about our lives, the addition of something vintage that makes me smile. But, it's a little miraculous. I've also set my mind on--coming out of the season of miracles--not to overlook the little things that bring joy into our lives because I'm sure that they are gifts from the One who loves us. Not every miracle needs to be headline-news-worthy. But, the more I open my mind to noticing them, the more I allow myself to realize the many many miracles that fill up our days, the more delightful life is.

Gingerbread Temples and Beeswax Crayons

2011-12-21T12:39:00.001-05:00

Naomi loves to make gingerbread houses, and this year it occurred to me that we could really make it part of our Hanukkah celebration by modifying a kit to make a Temple with some Macabbean soldiers. It was pretty fun to play with candy, and a great way to deplete a stockpile of candy we never let our kids eat anyway...

Then, last night everyone opened a gift. Leviah chose her new set of 24 Beeswax crayons and the two girls played all morning coloring pages we got from the Hanukkah storytime a the library last night, and this cute coloring book we bought last year from this sweet shop, and reprinted. It should keep them busy for a while! Naomi has been kind of interested in robots lately, so it worked out well. She was talking in a robot voice all morning.

oh. and this happened...hint.

Judah Maccabee and other Stamped Cookies

2011-12-19T07:56:00.003-05:00

I saw these via pinterest and actually used the idea!

this is my plate of favorites, but we made all kinds.

It was a great way to decorate shortbread cookies, especially for little hands. The end result is a bit like old-timey shortbread molds which can be difficult to make work.

It was very simple, we rolled out the dough and stamped.

Glazed with egg wash to make them shine.

And baked.

Shortbread cookies are probably my favorite, and this recipe worked perfectly--others I've tried have been too dry and difficult to make cut-out cookies from.

:RECIPE:

4 sticks of butter

1 cup of packed brown sugar

1 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 275F degrees. Cream the butter and sugar. Add salt, flour and vanilla and mix until well blended. Roll out to about 1/4inch thickness and cut shapes on a generously floured surface at will! Collect scraps, re-roll out and repeat until you've used all your dough. Bake for 45-50 minutes.

Did you make your favorite cookies this holiday season?

Are Your Candles Rolled?

2011-12-15T16:28:00.000-05:00

We took one morning last week to work as a candle factory. (we used this kit)

We are ready to burn-em-up!

on the to-do list (among other daily necessities):

make some cookies like these. (we should be so talented)

tell the story.

keep reciting this poem.

maybe make some of these for 'wrapping'.

clean this house. then, that's ALWAYS on the to-do list...

The Treasured Library

2011-11-30T20:19:00.009-05:00

note the cute little air drying penguins the girls made. We'll paint them when they're dry.

I love the library--particularly the 'juvenile' section, but all of it. First, you've got the books and the knowledge that if your fines are paid down (which is not an uncommon issue for me), you can take whatever one you choose home with you, free. Not just books mind you, audio books, dvds, equipment. When I was a kid we'd regularly borrow a VCR, bring it home and watch movies we otherwise couldn't--namely Anne of Green Gables and Beauty and the Beast. (We didn't own a VCR until someone gave us one when I was 13).

Then, in college I learned to write and actually use the library as a tool. First, you search by topic and author and it's like hunting down a treasure. I LOVE doing research (on the right topic) and having books or articles specially shipped to me or emailed or accessed, free. And, did you know you can request certain books be added to your library's collection just so you can check them out? Awesome. Or, if you don't feel like driving to central library downtown, put in a request and they'll transfer what you need to the library closest to you in about 2 days! It's really amazing to have a free resource like this, especially for us homeschoolers. Between that and Youtube I'm not sure anyone really needs a curriculum!

I haven't even mentioned the programs and activities they have for children and adults. Knitting, story time, summer reading, movies, afterschool stuff, book clubs, internet libraries, rosetta stone, librarians in general (whom are usually superbly kind)...For all the pitfalls of government organized services, the library is really one of the best things I think our tax money gets us.

Above is a picture of all the books we took out this week. Mainly Penguin books because, on account of our Zootles (by zoobooks) magazine focusing on them, so are we. It's been a really neat thing to explore and Naomi is really to the age where details about animals and their characteristics are sticking, so she can re-share them later. It's neat, and she's learning to get excited about how the library works as well. We hunted down 'Juv 598.47' together and what a thrill when she saw the shelf full of penguin related reading material! Very cool.

And the few extras are books I threw in simply because they looked amazing. Like A to Z Picture Book I LOVE Gyo Fujikawa's art. It's nostalgic and pleasing and modern and vintage all at the same time. The colors are a little muted, but also bright and you have to really look to notice all the detail and enjoy it completely. And with the library we get to sample and enjoy without committing to buy. But, now I want to buy the whole Fujikawa library for our home!

So. What do YOU have from the library right now?

Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T15:25:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone enjoys seconds, pie, and loosened belts.

these are some of our holiday decorations. Felted acorns and paper Pilgrims and Native Americans from the Toymaker.

To Eat and Play

2011-11-16T14:41:00.001-05:00

Play for me:: I'm excited to try and make these for myself when I get a spare minute. I'd actually played with trying to make a similar pattern a few years ago and gave up frustrated. Thanks M.S. for making it easier for me...

Play for the girls:: This was Leviah's b-day present. We ALL have enjoyed it as much as she does, it never gets old to try different ways of stacking/balancing them. There are a lot of toys from this shop that we want...

Food for us all:: (which turned into play as they arranged it themselves) Lunch for today.

sliced apples with dad's home-made yogurt (from raw local milk) & local honey from our own hives! Pretty decent ensemble on the fly. As we try to cut wheat/carbohydrates out as a mainstay in our lives, it's little victories like this lunch that help me know pb&j's and mac&cheese aren't the only things my kids will eat...

Some more options that are carb-free & kid friendly:
Peanut Butter and Celery
Dried Fruit
Cashews
Almonds
Cheese (like baybel, slices, cuts of whatever we have)
Cottage Cheese
Plain yogurt with honey
Carrots

what are some of your lunch time staples?

Closure Found in Ginger Pumpkin Bread

2011-11-07T13:59:00.000-05:00

the girls with the pumpkin we used for the bread & more.

There are about 1.7b'zillion things I want to share here, but I'm going to focus on rounding out the 'conclusion' of the last post--especially since I've had it up for so long as the latest entry.

First, thanks to all the thoughtful responses. It's comforting to have friends around me who read and share. Talking/writing it out is a tremendous help when I can count on people with understanding to offer advice!

Naomi didn't help me make the cake that day. She asked again and I just asked her if she knew why I didn't think I could let her; she said she did. That was it. I turned away trying not to cry and she moved on to playing something else.

2 days ago I invited her to help me make pumpkin bread. Of course she wanted to, I gave her a look and said, 'but, what are you going to need to do?'
'Listen.'

There was no hesitation, she had no doubt about how to make this experience successful. And she did too. We had a really good time together and whipped up the most delicious pumpkin bread I think I've ever had. Perhaps there was a certain sweetness that only I could taste. But, it really gave me the closure I think we both needed to the 'incident'.

And so, in lieu of your support, the fall season, my extensive love of anything pumpkin flavored and the grace that we all have when we take advantage of second chances, here's Martha Stewart's recipe for the best pumpkin bread ever--so you don't have to search high and low trying all varieties with mediocre results ;-)

Ingredients

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, plus room-temperature butter for pan

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed light-brown sugar

1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree (1 3/4 cups) (we used fresh pumpkin)

3 large eggs

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter and flour two 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch (6-cup) loaf pans (see note, below); set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, ginger, and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together sugars, pumpkin, melted butter, and eggs; add flour mixture, and stir until just combined

Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of loaves comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes; invert pans and transfer loaves to a wire rack to cool completely.

(we baked at 350degrees convection for about 45minutes)

The Birthday Cake Incident of 2011

2011-10-27T14:41:00.000-04:00

What started as a fun plan to make Leviah's 3rd birthday cake together ended in steam mopping and baseboard polishing. Needless to say, this isn't want I wanted to do today. I wanted to get something done. I wanted to include Naomi. I wanted to work together at making something special. How did it go wrong?

Naomi was disobedient. She was whining and complaining and nagging while I finished cleaning a nasty shelf and locating enough cocoa to make the cake work. I get it, she didn't want to sit there while I cleaned a shelf with nothing to do. So, she fidgeted with the cocoa container.

Me: 'Put it down.'
pause.
pause.
Naomi: 'I'm so sorry'.

Immediately I know the lid came off. Quickly I realize that there is cocoa everywhere. All over the stove, the whole oven front, the floor, covering Naomi's lap...

I don't want this moment to go out into the e-verse and live in infamy forever, but I do want to take an opportunity to vent because writing it all down might offer some clarity--for me.

So, in utter frustration I lay into Naomi with all the bits and pieces that she broke me with and how her disobedience is like saying with her actions, 'I am smarter than you, I know better'. blah. blah. blah. I probably don't give her enough credit for what she's capable of doing on her own. But, the cocoa is gone, and my interest in making cake along with it. Will I still do it? Yes. Will I still try to include Naomi? I fear not.

I love her with all my heart. Like her? At moments that's a different story. Sometimes I wish I were her aunt so I could really enjoy her, or an unbiased teacher; then I could take a step back and see her beauty and fun and not think about how I'm going to have to help her 'work' on things to be all she has the potential of being. Sometimes I wish she were just visiting so I could step out of our day-to-day routine and just focus on having a good time with her--not fret about the laundry I need to get done, the insurance agent I need to call, the baby who needs a new diaper, the shelf that won't get cleaned of by itself.

In this flurry of anger and dismay the stories of the scripture about the wrath of God towards His people, the idea that there have been moments when the survival of humanity was questionable really stand out to me. But, there's forgiveness.

So, to be a good mother how do I forgive her as I should? How do I let her back into cake-making with me? Or, should I? Should the consequence of her disobedience be to sit this one out? Like the Israelites and that first generation who didn't get into the Promised Land? Whether she is repentant or not, she committed the crime and needs to do the time, right? But, I WANTED to do it with her and it is hurtful that now I have to go it alone, and with the 'incident' in the back of my mind all the while. In writing that I think about the depth a little. She hurt me more than with the disobedience, now we BOTH have to suffer through the punishment.

Anyway, it does help me to write this down. And, I'll probably actually post it because it's likely that you've had a similar experience and you'll have wise words to share. In advance, Thanks.

Homes for Crickets and Toads.

2011-10-24T13:56:00.000-04:00

There are many things to share from our week long Sukkot camping adventure, but to delve into it all is a little overwhelming. So, I will pick one thing that actually calms me just thinking about...

We built a village. The little ones napped and Drew, Naomi & I sat in the shade 'round a mossy spot and used sticks and stones and pine needles and acorns and leaves and built a little fairy village. It was utterly relaxing and a great way to open Naomi up to ingenuitive thinking.

It surprisingly nice and simple and only one of the very fun times we shared through the week, but as I look through the pictures (it was well documented, Drew & I took turns trying to capture it perfectly) I feel the calm of the process...

I can't think of a better way to encourage imagination. Perhaps there's a cricket or a toad making themselves cozy round the fire right about now. This will be a new tradition to help us sit and enjoy our days outside. I think we may start treating them like GeoCaches so others can look for them--wouldn't that be a fun thing to treasure hunt for? And add to? This article triggered my memory of making them as a kid. And of course, Magic Onions always has inspiring fairy garden ideas!

Holiday Reminiscing

2011-10-12T12:04:00.001-04:00

Tonight is the first night of Sukkot (feast of tabernacles). So, amid the rush of getting everything packed and ready to go for a week of camping and fellowship, I'm stopping in to share a few photos of years past.

2004: Went into labor the next day. (this is proof to those who don't believe I gained a ginormous amount of weight when I was pregnant the first time. whew.)

2005: Naomi was born at Sukkot in 2004, so here she is almost 1.

2006: The Sukkah in the backyard. (Naomi 2)

2007: Naomi's 3rd birthday fell on Sukkot, so we partied extra hard.

2008: Sweet Lady blowing a Shofar
(I was due a week after sukkot with Leviah--hence, my midwife kept the feast with us, just in case we'd need to do a 'tent' birth).

2008: Sweet kiddo decorating the Sukkah.

2009: Naomi turned 5 and Leviah was almost 1.

2010: The kids enjoyed a field movie night. This is a new tradition and we're looking forward to this year's show. Drew's mad A/V skills make this all possible.

The 'Yes' List *

2011-10-06T14:54:00.001-04:00

We're reevaluating our food eating. We're always reevaluating it, it's under constant scrutiny. Recently, however, it seems everyone we know is turning their attention to one major thing: Gluten/Carbs (granted, they're not exactly the same, but part of the same family).

So, it turns out health and diet are directly related. Who knew?! (sarcasm). But, seriously, we live in a world where nearly every foreign thing is at hand for us to consume, from toys to furniture: then there's food. We eat bananas from South America, rice from India, coffee from Africa, and grains from the other side of the country. Now, my conclusion is becoming more and more based on locale, rather than type. In other words, though a diet filled mainly by bread and cookies would never be healthy, there's a major nutritional difference between a Newman's Own creme filled cookie and a home baked oatmeal raisin made from neighborhood dairy cow butter and locally harvested and freshly milled grains. They're just not equal cookies.

I can't summarize in words the connection our bodies have with the food we consume, I also can't eat a diet that doesn't include some of these 'foreign' foods--at least not immediately. While the 'local food' movement is growing and the awareness of the economical importance of reinvesting in our own community helps, it's really only half the point. We need to eat from our own environment because it's balance. We dress for the weather in our environment, we build houses out of the materials found in our environment (at least we should probably try to do that more as well), we grow things in our own gardens that will grow in this environment...

What it is that I think we're getting wrong is very well represented in a popular specialty grocery store that most people (including me) really love (it's a national chain, but I can't bring myself to name names). Though I wish there were one in my own community, I'd venture to say that there may be just one random piece of fruit that is from inside a 200mile radius; the majority of their products are an unnatural part of my life in terms of local production. Nearly everything is imported from somewhere and then distributed from somewhere nearly as far away. Terms like 'organic', 'natural', 'free-range' can only do so much--they can only be truly meaningful on a specific level. They are better than their counterparts, certainly. But, are they the best standard?

A great example of this that most folks agree on: Honey. As beekeepers we know that there are many many people who go out of their way to buy and consume raw, local honey. With good reason: if you can get your hands on this stuff it has a myriad of health benefits as compared to typical grocery honey because of what's in it--bits and pieces of your local environment (not just sugar water or pollen from acres of gmo orange blossoms). Consuming it toughens you to your local allergens and it's rawness keeps the microorganisms that keep bees healthy (and you) alive. Now, it's GOT to be the same for more than just honey. Like milk--definitely milk. Meat? Veggies? Grains? Somewhere the statements turn into questions.

This is heavy. It's big. While I can't see myself quitting my daily cup of joe, I have to think harder about what it means. Perhaps pouring in the local-grass fed-dairy milk will help counter balance. Thinking about all this puts into perspective how far our society has come--or gone, from its roots. I honestly have no idea where to buy local grains. I'd love to grow my own, but realistically right now, that's not going to happen. Milling them has been on my mind, but eating this way requires so much! And local meat? Even the options at the farmer's market are driven from 100 miles away. Can you imagine how people lived 2 centuries ago? They followed eating a meal with preparing for the next. Let's not get into clothing, blankets, woodchopping...

And back to bread, which I personally am not ready to eliminate. What is this thing called 'yeast' found at the closest grocers? If we were using the cultures in the air around us, wouldn't that help us balance our health? I don't know if we can reverse the hands of time and get back to this. I know that bananas will continue to be served in our home, but it is so much to consider. (All this reminds me of the promise for 'a land flowing with milk and honey'. Now, Israel seems like a place that could probably grow most anything from chocolate to avocados to apples and pecans).

I'm putting it all out there because I'd love feedback and suggestions and input and if you have a good resource, proof to the contrary! All families have their own dietary restrictions and preferences whether for health or ethics. What are yours?

*title coined my dear friend ange--but, I like the positive spin. Now what can I put on it?!

A Week of Celebration

2011-09-30T18:20:00.001-04:00

We are full swing in our craziest time of year.

Yesterday was Rosh Hashanah and we spent the day in the mountains, per our tradition. (We visit the creek there every year in part to perform the ritual of Tashlich that Margaret speaks of here.) It was great, and friends/family joined us this year which made it even more adventurous. The weather, as it has been in years past, was perfect. 70s, cooling off in the evening.

We enjoyed honey cake & round challah, kite flying, hiking, dam building, downtown perusing and a delcious dinner at a new place in Boone (at least new to us). There should be heavy napping today...

On top of all that, tomorrow we are headed to Raleigh so I can go to a friend's bachelorette party--i love a good night out with the girls. Sunday Naomi will be 7. WHAT?! so, we'll be celebrating that with the requested picnic with family and friends. Then, back home and Monday will be a day that goes down in infamy as my 30th birthday. I'll take a slow day for that, the older I get the less I want to do and the more I have to, so a nice day of mosey-ing about would hit the spot.

Anyway, older is better. Recently one of my oldest friend's and I discussed our aging. It's not nearly as dreadful as you think it will be. When you're twenty you think life can't get better, but it does and that's surprising and it's really the best part of my birthday is thinking about how I have SO much of what I want out of life and I'm still relatively youthful. Not that I can't think of other places to go, or more goals to reach, but, to quote Anne Shirley, "I'm pretty nearly perfectly happy."

The fun won't end this week. October is FULL of camping for Sukkot, Leviah's birthday, and the general celebrating of Fall--which is (once again) my fave.

A Counting Board and a Toy

2011-09-21T13:04:00.001-04:00

our curriculum instructed us to make one of these, and I'm excited we did. It's a really neat tool. I'm pretty certain I don't understand all the ins-and-outs, but this is what you make when you count by 3's.

and this is the process of counting by 4's. Naomi discovered that counting by 6's creates the same star. And, she has been playing with it all afternoon making all kinds of patterns. Who knew learning could be fun?! ;-)

Perhaps some of you know how to use the circle for even more learning opportunities?

Cooling Off Where You Are?

2011-09-16T14:36:00.001-04:00

It's cold (squeal of delight) and Eliza is now wearing the hat I knit while she was in-utero. It's cuter on & all the flaws are much less noticeable when her sweet laughing eyes are peaking out from underneath. Here's more on the pattern. Is there anyone who doesn't think aviator hats are adorable?!

What cool-weather knits are you pulling out of hiding?

The Girl Can't Read--words.

2011-09-14T13:19:00.000-04:00

Naomi started Violin lessons over the summer. There's a notion that most public schools don't embrace and that is that when a child is ready for something, they'll do it. A year ago an hour of time spent trying to teach Naomi how to tie her shoes was fruitless and frustrating. Last week I demonstrated it twice and she walked away knowing how to tie her shoes.

Back to violin. Naomi has been taking 'music' lessons for some time, but they were introductory and more about rhythm and getting them comfortable with looking at notes, hearing tones, etc. Now, though we weren't sure until she began, Naomi is ready to play violin. She picked it up, and can even read music after only a few months--it's amazing. I expected to suffer through months, if not years of cat-fight-sounding screeches, but most of what she plays is actually pleasant. Not to say it's all on key, or that she's some sort of prodigy, I am just very pleased with her ability to enjoy it so quickly. The groundwork was laid and now she will be able to progress, not without instruction, but it's coming very naturally to her--like with the shoe-tying.

I'm not embarrassed to say that Naomi can't read. She'll be 7 in a few weeks and though at times it's been difficult not to feel like we're doing something wrong by NOT forcing it, I really feel that we're still in the foundation-laying time. Drew and I both read, we read to her constantly; her vocabulary is huge and her comprehension fantastic. When the time is right we will be ready for her readiness; but now, as always, I remind myself that late readers are often the ones who enjoy reading the most (according to a recent article I read), and what are we trying to prove anyway? I'd rather she know how to be kind, so I'll force that learning on her instead for now...

Too Much To Say

2011-09-05T21:05:00.000-04:00

So much going on around here I can't pick a topic to stick to. So, I'll summarize in pictures.

first there was the beach. great time with sweet friends.

then there's the booth downtown where I'm now selling some of gremlina's vintage wares.

then we had the indie market, which is always fun.

and we'll end with our first real day of homeschooling, today. it wasn't laborious, so don't worry too much. stories, letters, verses, circle time...more tomorrow!

Each of these things is somewhat lessened by being listed in this manner, but I assure you, they're all significant and there will surely more about them later.

On Our Homeschooling Style

2011-08-22T15:56:00.000-04:00

I've been doing a lot of mental organization--lining things up, taking stock of my vision for our homeschooling this year. Drew has been helping a lot, and both of us have been reading and researching. Thank goodness for the internet! While Drew ordered this book and is really enjoying it, I found this website and am finding MANY free publications on topics that I wanted to explore.

While it will take several weeks at least to figure out the rhythm that will best suit us, I am putting the actual routine off until the last of our Summer excursions is over. So, the first week of September we should get the ball rolling.

But, the feeling of overwhelm-tion is subsiding. I feel like I have a grasp on our curriculum and the many resources we have there, but I also am excited about constantly finding more. We have a great Charlotte Mason group we convene with every other week and the support from that group of ladies is fantastic. I really think Charlotte Mason and Rudolf Steiner were kindred spirits, and between the two of them, tossing around a little Montessori, well...I think we've got some good places to find inspiration.

one gratuitous baby shot. lucky sisters.

So we are getting excited. I think even Naomi is getting a sense of excitement. She is almost 7, and the physical and spiritual changes that make life with a kid in their seventh year (as described by Steiner) trying seem to be fading. Her ability to listen and understand is somewhat intimidating! She wants to know everything, and she's becoming more and more willing to take the instruction Drew and I have to offer! The decision to homeschool is less and less questionable as the best alternative for our family--it is what we need to do, and what a privilege it is to participate in all the parts of these new people understanding the world around them! And, by teaching them ourselves we regularly get to remind them that everything we learn about is a gift meant just for us. Something about my own education seemed like a deliberate effort to distract from that fact...

I wanted to share this quote:

"For the human soul is like an inexhaustible spring that can pour out its treasures unceasingly as soon as the first impulse has been called forth. But often people are so indolent that they will not make the initial effort to bring forth what is in their souls."

--Rudolf Steiner

from Lecture four in The Kingdom of Childhood

Isn't that nice? Seems relevant to just about everything, but it's in reference to telling stories--a skill I hope to work on. I sometimes retell stories to the girls without books and they respond so differently than they do to books.

The Homebirth Story: A Family Affair

2011-08-19T12:24:00.001-04:00

3 months later...sorry for the delay. I'm not sure what excuse there is beyond me just putting it off. I think in one way I'm sort of embarrassed for not having had the triumphant experience I did with Leviah. That's not true, on any level. The difference is how much help I needed to get to that triumph--not how my do-it-myself self prefers things...an event in which everyone in the room is like family. Note the girls in the pictures. Though Naomi cried nervously this time around due to the extensive noise-making, she came out on the other side excited--and Leviah was like a rock, and now tells everyone exactly where her new sister came from--whether it's appropriate or not.

First, it's important that you know how I feel about due dates. With this pregnancy I was hell bent on keeping numbers out of it. Having gone to 42 weeks with the last pregnancy, and knowing how crazy that made me...well, I recommend this ignorance. It helped for the obvious reason of not losing my mind when I went over plus, at those last few check ups I didn't worry over the measurements as much as I would have had I followed a predetermined date--I was measuring small (not by the human eye--for sure).

Anyway, the estimated time of arrival, in my mind was the end of May, maybe June. I had plans I'd meant to accomplish in those last few weeks that have yet to be done...I was so convinced I had more time and not that I was caught unprepared, but we were sort of 'in media res' (latin). So, Friday we were visiting my parents in Raleigh, Saturday we stopped by a birthday party on the way back to Greensboro, Sunday morning we woke up early and met someone to have maternity pictures taken--I wore white pants. Can I just say I think this is why I went into labor? Seriously...

my big belly less than 24 hours before she came out. (courtesy of Gina Schultz Photography)

So, it starts; low, menstrual cramp like contractions began as we started our photo-op. Pre-labor contractions are normal for me, like for a month to 6 weeks prior, but these contractions were not the same. Fortunately there was a public restroom at the park. We continued with our session, ran some errands (looked for strawberries at farmstands and bought a fig tree), then headed home. On the way I called my dear midwife, just to keep her in the loop. At this point I assumed it would go away as it had last time, but my midwife hit me with unexpected news, "I think you'll have this baby tonight!". So, we ran home to clean.

The contractions were never regular. Thanks to my sweet iPod and clever app-builders I tracked them for you to see:

we stopped timing at 5:32.

Drew blew up the pool, ran to the store to buy a hose, I cleaned frantically and tried to remind the girls about what was going to happen: midwives, pool, screaming, new baby...My mom came at 8ish to watch the girls and at that point the contractions were very uncomfortable, but still, irregular. We watched about 3 episodes of American Pickers while I traveled to and from the bathroom.

It began to storm around 10:30 or 11pm and at this time some of the contractions were about 4 minutes apart, so I called my midwife and told her she may want to come. Both my midwife and her lovely assistant were there within an hour, and we discussed the irregularity of my contractions. Though painful, they just weren't keeping a rhythm.

I paced, I got in the pool, I laid down, I paced--the hours passed. We all rested (and while I tried to get things moving along by walking around in our bedroom I was serenaded by restful snorts down the hall...).

Birds were chirping. I hated those birds. The sun was rising. I hated that sun. The contractions kept coming hard and with every painful contraction there was a 5 minute pause in between--I hated these pauses. I wanted to push forward and be done because exhaustion was settling in...I could sense that the break was keeping the baby from coming.

At about 8:30 I tried squatting and my water exploded. At this point I was not prepared to stand much, my legs were worn out, so laying on my side I pushed and screamed and thought to myself about the impossibility of pushing this baby out. There were lots of pushes and no crowning and it was the most frustrating thing of my life. But, thanks to the clever persuasion of my midwives who moved something down there out of the way (lovely imagery), the baby came. 9:23am. The GIRL came. (admittedly this fact was shocking to me, and I believe my response to Drew who first told me was, "you're kidding me!". Not that we don't love girls, but I think everyone secretly wants one of each and everyone, from the waitress at the Mexican restaurant when I was only 4 months to the old antique junk collector at a yard sale when I was 35 weeks to my mother and my best friend, said it was a boy. My belly misrepresented it's cargo apparently.

Anyhow. That is the story of how Eliza came. I didn't mention the fact that had I been in a hospital, the odd contracting would have led to pitocin, the pain from that to epidural, and the lack of feeling and odd position of the baby to a cesarean. All this to say that I believe homebirth is not only a safe option for women in normal birthing conditions, but perhaps SAFER (as the studies show).

Something interesting? My midwife noted 2 things about Eliza post-birth. 1. She held her left arm up to her face, probably because that's where it'd been all along in utero. This makes sense, because I'd often felt a 'low scraping' with her that'd I'd never felt with the others. 2. She appeared to be more like 41 weeks based on her skin, fingernails, etc. Funny, since I measured 35cm only 1 week before...Just goes to show what we can't know for sure.

the sisters Grim.

**thank you my sweet midwives, for risking yourselves for the sake of my well-being in a state that doesn't recognize the importance of this choice. we love you.

***it has been brought to my attention that I forgot to mention the support of my husband, who was there for the entirety of the event--even at it's conception ;) and without whom none of this could have taken place. And, while I'm adding, i'll mention my mom, who also has played a significant role in my births (including my own).

Fall Signs and Smells

2011-08-15T09:53:00.000-04:00

we found some of these on our tree,

so we picked.

and peeled.

and peeled some more.

and put them in a pot to make sauce. and smelled (sorry, no picture for that)

looking forward to more cool mornings, crisp evenings, fall holidays and another birthday season! is fall your favorite time of year?

Learning More about Waldorf

2011-08-11T13:15:00.001-04:00

Another promotion?! Well, I guess it's just that time of year...
I'm excited to participate in this E-course. Drew and I have learned so much since we discovered Rudolf Steiner a few years ago. His writings are extensive and his philosophy has been easily transferred into our lives. The spiritual connections and depth of connections he discusses have helped us not only with homeschooling and gaining new perspective on the growth and life-cycles of our children, but of our garden as well!

So, to have an opportunity to take a class on Anthroposophy is exciting for us, we're thrilled that this e-course is available. 5 weeks, and classes we can watch when we have adequate time...couldn't be better. I encourage you to consider it, the price is more than fair and the information is bound to be enlightening! I'm especially looking forward to week 4.

Five Spheres of Waldorf Education ECourse

through Little Acorn Learning

Instructor: Dr. Rick Tan

Five Week ECourse Begins August 15th and Runs for 5 Weeks

~NOW ENROLLING~

5 Full Weeks of lessons, videos and assignments!

The Five Spheres of Waldorf education encapsulates the sweeping themes

of this educational movement: Self, Relationships, Balance, Rhythm, and Course.

In the five-week seminar offered at Little Acorn Learning,

Dr. Rick Tan will discuss one sphere per week and the relevant topics in

anthroposophy and Waldorf that are connected with the sphere.

Dr. Rick Tan is an artist, musician, and graphic designer. He was a

homeschooling parent and currently is the seventh grade teacher at Davis Waldorf School.

Week 1

The Self Sphere:

The topic of Anthroposophy as the human being’s inner striving to

understand oneself will be reviewed. Here, the many natures of the Self:

ego, astral, etheric, and physical bodies will be discussed

Week 2

The Relationships Sphere:

We will touch on the synergy of our connections with each other.

Week 3:

The Balance Sphere:

This week will present us with a foundation for the three fold social order,

and the three fold human being as thinker, feeler, doer.

Week 4:

The Rhythm Sphere:

We will cover the four-part main lesson, and the four temperaments:

choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic, and melancholic.

Week 5:

The Course Sphere:

This lesson will touch on the curriculum of Waldorf education.

To Enroll in this Exciting ECourse, Visit Little Acorn Learning HERE for More Details.

Winner!

2011-08-10T12:47:00.000-04:00

The winner of the Cedar Ring Circle is #17 (chosen at random):

My Barefoot Angel said...

I'm starting our homeschooling this Fall using Earthschooling and am rather nervous about it. Wish that I have known about the co-op as I've already bought a few items before learning about it. I would be excited to get some kite papers if I win the giveaway!

Thanks to all who entered and to CRC! I certainly hope you'll all considering joining the co-op to take full advantage of the great discounts and community resource!

Busy as Bees

2011-08-08T21:12:00.001-04:00

these are now ready for consumption through the winter.

Not having a lot in the way of spare moments to sit and type and share...summer is far from lazy! If we're not cooking up something to put in jars, we're visiting friends at the pool or traveling for celebrations, popping up tents to vend some sweet vintage goodies, or trying to think ahead to upcoming holidays, birthdays and schooling.

But, here I sit with a few photos to give an update in images.

toesies.

fish-tail braiding (among others)

she's been goggled.

recent harvests & the girls helping out.

And the winner of the Cedar Ring Circle giveaway will be announced on Wednesday--that means 1 more day to enter!

Cedar Ring Circle and Homeschooling Cheap.

2011-07-31T22:36:00.003-04:00

In thinking about our upcoming school year we had a lot to consider. We enjoyed Oak Meadow and while I think what they offer is great, I wasn't thrilled about paying for all their curriculum and still needing to buy all the supplies and crafting materials. I guess I'm a cheapskate, but I think I also just wanted to explore our options. So, even though I was surprised to find my daughter and husband in their recent ad in Living Crafts, (though we HADN'T won their photo contest for free curriculum?! anyone spot them?) we are moving forward.

Enter: Cedar Ring Circle. If you've not been to their site or joined the co-op you may not know that they offer homeschooling packages through their online store for the general public, and discounts on supplies, books, and Little Acorn Learning guides for co-op members. They were one of our other options, and we were privileged to win a month's free in March and we loved it. The major hitch for most Waldorf influenced curricula is the heavy focus on holidays that we don't really celebrate--it's no one's fault, but the major thing in OM's favor was the lack of that. We fill in the holidays on our own, and we are happy that way.

So, CRC offered a package that accompanies the Earthschooling curricula; the price is great and the package is HUGE! The price of Earthschooling's online resources is reasonable as is, but we were given a discount on that as a result of purchasing CRC's bundle and all in all we came in around $300 for all the materials we should need for next year. This is big. While we may not be the best at strictly following any lesson plan day to day, it is a great relief to have a guide and reference point through the year AND the materials to boot! No more skipping projects because we're missing one or more of the bits and pieces.

Cedar Ring Circle has generously offered to giveaway one free membership to the co-op ($25 value) to one of you lucky readers! Take a look around their site and tell us what you'd be excited to get the member discount on and comment below for an entry. Winner will be announced, Tuesday August 9th.

(make sure we can get in touch with you!)

What are You Making From Your Garden?

2011-07-24T20:26:00.000-04:00

Here's hoping more of you will share here. I love peeking through internet windows into other people's gardens...it's easier if you tell me where to look.

Anyway, this month has been the busiest garden month & it's the one where the garden spills into the kitchen, nearly everyday. It's exciting, overwhelming, messy, delicious, exhausting and worthwhile. So far we've made 2 kinds of sauces, one from a recipe Drew found, the other from my own head. (I prefer the second method and its results!) Drew made a killer Salsa, we've also canned some beans and cabbage, frozen some things and enjoyed fresh tomato salads, sandwiches, and more.

we're now keeping canned goods above our cabinets as no other shelf is sturdy enough...hopefully they are!

How do you use the produce from your garden or farmer's market? Do you put stuff up? There's nothing more satisfying than fresh tomato sauce, straight from our own garden, in February. If you have a recipe for something you love, let me know, we have a hard time re-using--even the ones we have loved.

Please share links to recipes in the comments, or to your own blog posts with this widget:

(and feel free to copy the image and share on your blog! I'd love for more folks to post here.)

Tomato Paper Craft

2011-07-22T13:09:00.000-04:00

As we harvest, eat, and process the endless supply of tomatoes from our garden, Drew thought of a fun activity making use of tomato peels. The girls loved it, and the outcome is like stained glass...

Many recipes for canning tomatoes call for peeling them, which makes for much smoother sauces, salsas, etc. But instead of throwing them away,

lay them out, press them (we used 2 cutting boards)

and hang the result in the window!

notes: using waxed paper, pelon or some other non-stick material would work better. We just used regular scrap/printer paper and in some places it didn't peel off well. It takes almost 2 days for the tomato peel paper to dry thoroughly, so be patient! And, tomatoes aren't the only produce that make great peel-paper...

Who's Baby is This?!

2011-07-17T14:39:00.001-04:00

We've been doing a lot of staring. There have been a few milk man jokes...but, really, I think we're all excited and awestruck by the creativity of Creation. I mean, the same gene pool has turned out a very different baby. Our first 2 girls looked so much like their dad that I had given up the notion that strangers could pair my kids with me. They're dark, I'm fair. They're brown eyed, I'm blue.

drew

This new one, well, she's still a bit old-manish looking, as all newborns are. She's growing into something though. Blue eyes, and maybe light hair coming in?!

Having children and watching them feels a little like looking at trees on a nature walk. First you have a Maple, the mighty maple tree with leaves anyone would recognize, it's characteristics are magnificent and dependable and we know them. Then, you have a spruce. Sure, the maple and the spruce both grow tall, they have bark branches and roots--but the differences are numerous and the 2 are VERY different trees. Continue down the trail just a bit and you'll meet a red bud or a dogwood or maybe even an apple...

When you're pregnant you don't know what to expect, and a little bit of me always expects more of the same, another Naomi, another Leviah. I have no real idea what Eliza's personality will be. Looking back at the infancy of the other two their personalities were so obviously present, but it will take months and years for me to really know her and it's SO tremendously exciting. The girls I have are such individuals, it seems like the ultimate privilege to be a part of their growth and having experienced that unveiling twice I think I'm appreciating it more this time around. I can't wait to see who Eliza is going to be, what her interests and talents will be. Her unique look in one small way shows me how I have no idea what to expect...

naomi

leviah

eliza (photo courtesy of Gina Schultz Photography)

Here are family baby pics to compare. Looking through all the baby pics reminds me that it's about time to share the birth story. It'll come...

Sunday Garden

2011-07-10T21:29:00.000-04:00

Summer has swept us away, and the garden. Things are growing--nearly out of control. It's a delicate balance, one minute everything looks great, the next sunflowers are falling over under the weight of their own blooms and the paths are unpassable thanks to giant tomatillo plants and unruly butternut squash vines...

But, we picked our first ever Savoy Cabbage today, canned some and will make this recipe which I caught Lidia making on today's show. Kismet, as yesterday we had NO idea what we would make with it...

Here are the photo updates:

echinacea (cone flower) growing on the side of the house

hops--very small! Drew just started it, may take a year or 2.

there are LOADS of butternut squash. Anyone know when you pick?

savoy cabbage plant

savoy cabbage chopped

please share a link to your latest garden post!

Pennsylvania Dreamin' on Such a Summer's Day

2011-07-07T19:49:00.000-04:00

the Brown barn in the sunset

Here are some pictures from our time in PA. We had such a great time reuniting with family, and the farm.

It's a family farm, to be sure; my mom grew up with dairy cows, but the pastures are full of wildflowers now. Some hay will be harvested by a neighbor, but there are 80acres of nature to roam through. Being there reminded me why I have this urgency about getting our family out in the country. We have a lot going for us here in the city, but the way the girls were free to explore and enjoy the things I remember enjoying myself, that is what I dreaded leaving even when I was a kid. It was hard to pull them away and drive the 10 hours back...

picking wild berries

wearing wildflowers and hiking

forget-me-nots

reunion attire designed and printed by my mom & I.

Naomi kayaking on the pond by herself!

riding ponies

paths on the farm.

sunset over the fields

Activities not pictured:

fishing

hay-riding

hobo pie making

baby passing

smore eating

four wheeling

tie-dying

rock painting

running

kayaking

sleeping over with cousins

yard sale-ing (we were like American Pickers up there!)

riding through Amish country

good food enjoying

stepping back in time

visiting, loving and being loved

It's amazing how many memories you can fit into a 3 day period. Thanks to my aunts, uncles, cousins and grandma for all that you planned!

Around the Honey House

2011-06-30T08:00:00.003-04:00

So, we've harvested and will be bottling soon. When keeping bees you quickly realize the need for a honey house. What we have is a sticky mess in this 'honey' house. It's mostly clean now, but that's 4 mops later...

we had about 5.5 supers and 1 hive body full of frames.

isn't he cute with his bee-man hat? Naomi went to help bring them home...she looked like E.T. in my bee suit.

first we had to de-cap all the frames, which is not easy, even with a hot-knife. All hands were on deck for this chore.

And then you spin...thank goodness for folks willing to lend their bee equipment and Drew's ingenuity--he made it possible to spin the hive with a power drill instead of a hand crank. MUCH faster!

Feel free to email if you'd like to reserve a pint or quart.

We're off to North Eastern Pennsylvania tomorrow morning to reunite and enjoy the 4th. Look forward to pics from that journey soon...

Broccoli Fireworks

2011-06-25T08:00:00.015-04:00

Supplies: Paper, tempera paints, and broccoli.

Naomi and I have been doing a lot of paper exploring. Mainly Naomi. It's hot outside, somewhat dreadfully hot & if you can manage to beat the heat it's still hard to ignore the blood sucking mosquitoes that swarm human flesh...so, inside we have paper. Origami, collage, drawing, painting, stamping...we've been doing a little of everything.

on black or dark paper might be a cool effect--more like the night sky.

The other day we discovered a fun Fourth of July activity--firework paper. While using a few stray pieces of broccoli that were lying around to stamp(doesn't everyone leave broccoli lying around?) we found that holding them upright made a stamp that resembled fireworks! So, we covered white paper with red and blue fireworks & are prepared to use that paper for anything related to the 4th. We'll be in PA for a family reunion--maybe name tags would be sweet? Ideas?

So, next time you DO have broccoli lying around pick it up and make some fireworks!

{this moment} Swingin' sisters (again)

2011-06-17T08:00:00.003-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. See Soulemama to play along

ps. Happy Birthday Drew. love you...

Las Mariposas Senoritas Pinturadas

2011-06-15T13:52:00.000-04:00

Because I have a minute while everyone is resting...

We just released butterflies from our butterfly observation kit. Painted Ladies.

Here are some of the last one we released, it took a bit to fly away and it was bittersweet. Naomi wanted to keep it and let it go all at the same time. But, she is comforted knowing they may return...

*if you click on the photos you should be able to see more detail.

Back in the Garden

2011-06-12T22:17:00.000-04:00

While I haven't had much time to post, we've been enjoying a lot of time with friends and simply, together as a family. I anticipated a certain amount of down-time, but I'll confess I haven't felt much like sitting around. Perhaps it's the time of year, but surprisingly quickly I feel I'm coming out of the baby fog. Not to say things are all making sense to me...

But, much of our time as a family is spent in the garden. Everyone enjoys it, particularly if we can make it out there in the morning. The heat so far this summer has been outrageous!

we planted some sunflowers, but others popped up and are useful for bean-climbing.

But, hopefully I'll be back to more regular posts soon. Speaking of which, here is a delayed peek into our garden. It's been a while and things are a little jungle-esque now. I'm also hoping that some of you will share your gardening links below!

bee balm

blackberries

a random head of broccoli or 2 are still popping up.

to control the bermuda grass, which isn't really possible, we put down weed cloth & Drew topped it with mulch today--it was STILL thriving under the cloth. the devil weed...

the lemon trees have lemons! never before...

this is our first harvest of onions, should be more later. Any suggestions on keeping them? We plan to braid, but we've never done onions before...

tomatillos are also new for us--but this recipe (using chicken thighs) made us want to try.

and the most exciting summer crop? tomatoes are almost ready. We can't wait...

Shavuot

2011-06-07T23:20:00.000-04:00

In years past we haven't put much effort into the exploration of this Biblical holiday. I'm not sure why, something just seemed so foreign. Growing up in a Christian home, the holidays have become a reflection of what I've always known, that God is with us and wants to participate in our lives. The holidays are not just a frivolous good time, but they are specifically designed to provide regular times of meeting--specific times to convene with the Creator in a way that helps us understand Him and the world around us.

So, we are trying harder this year to get-it. Tonight we had a little potluck with friends to learn and 'convoke' (one of the commandments). Shavuot marks the end of the Passover season, which for us has been very eventful! It feels a little like the unwinding--the resolution. It's the end of one harvest, the beginning of another; it also marks the giving of the Law to the Israelites, a people floundering in the desert, a people without direction.

For me, there's been a revelation. The Hebrew people were freed from bondage, freed from enslavement. A lot of folks look at the commandments as a new bondage, but the truth is it only gave them more freedom. They wandered meaninglessly in the desert, repeatedly doing the same silly things and forgetting the bondage they escaped--or worse, remembering it fondly, some wanting to return. Without the gift of the law we'd all still be in the desert--it's the Torah that maps a path straight to the Promised Land, even though we don't deserve it...

the kiddos lined up for learning...

Anyway, these little nuances of our faith add such depth. So, tonight and tomorrow we think about the giving of the Commandments. One fun way to do this? Making Blintzes--of course! and piling them high to represent Mt. Sinai. Oh, and reading this book.

Blintz Recipe We Followed from this book

Blintz Recipe and Great Visual Directions

Hope that wasn't too much reflection for everyone!

Slow Moe & ROTH for Summer

2011-06-01T08:00:00.005-04:00

baby admiring.

Things are slow around here. There's a baby, it's hot, all the classes and lessons and scheduled weekly events are on hiatus. We've been blessed with meals from friends, bounty in the garden, and general good health. Recovery from labor has been relatively quick, and I'm beginning to see a light at the end of the breastfeeding-sore nipple-wet all the time-trial period that has been going on for a week now. A process that is so natural and beneficial for mom & baby sometimes seems more than a little difficult. It's all worth it--of course, but I welcome the relief I can feel coming...

Here are a few pics from our week.

there's been some shelling of peas.

I'm proud to hold the title for fastest sheller, however I didn't shell the most! The girls LOVE doing this.

some dada/big sister time with the bikes & a memorial day picnic with my family.

rediscovering and remastering old toys.

did I mention baby admiring?

Check out the new edition of Rhythm of the Home for some sweet summer activities and articles. I'm excited to have an article about our progress and suggestions on organization--I'm still really proud of how far we've come and how it's helping, even in this time of transition.

Numero 3

2011-05-26T15:42:00.000-04:00

Littlest baby Grim was born on Monday morning. She's a girl--despite all the predictions based on the way I carried So, we're more like the Ingalls than ever! And 'Pa' seems just fine with that ;)

Birth Time: Monday, May 23 at 9:42am

Name: Eliza Liri Eliza means "Pledged to God" & Liri "Music"

Weight: 8 lbs 7oz

Height: 21 inches

While her birth was far from the simple, quick and nearly easy birth of Leviah, it is done and we were at home and safe and all is well. I am so thankful for my midwife, she's a blessing in our lives for more reasons than her expansive knowledge of birthing babies. Things could have been much worse had we not had her help!

We may be a little slow on posting for the next few weeks. My eyes are a bit droopy and it's hard to focus on a computer screen...but, we're up and at 'em. Funny how much faster you have to recover and can, when there are other little ones anxious to play...

{this moment} - midwife in training

2011-05-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

The Final Countdown: Expiration Date Approaches

2011-05-18T20:45:00.000-04:00

You may have heard. I'm pregnant. REALLY pregnant. 39 weeks and counting.

In these final hours I've decided to start a mission, a mission to eradicate due dates. The fact is due dates are like expiration dates--some folks adhere to them as mere suggestions, others toss the milk the day after; a due date can drive a woman mad.

Well, babies don't expire in the womb, they are not canned goods or sour cream...and though some of us think we can ignore a due date's passing and patiently wait for the baby's real birthday, it's impossible to ignore completely.

But, I will say, with some concerted effort I have managed to forget what that day might be for this particular pregnancy. What a relief! Now, the simple answer to those 'when are you due' questions that come whenever I poke my head out a window: 'I'm 39 weeks--whatever that means!' Many are not satisfied, but it is not my goal to please the masses ;)

This little revelation as to due dates and their obvious connection to expiration dates has dawned on me the closer we get to the end. I don't know when this baby is coming--no one does, and having that number out of my head completely makes it easier to wait. I highly recommend it!

Over All the Garden

2011-05-15T20:00:00.000-04:00

note the happy garden cat.

We stopped by the Farmer's market this evening and it was packed full--but almost no produce. Several hot-house tomatoes, but there were plants EVERYWHERE! We should have known, as this is the story 'round our place. There's lots of new excitement though, from potatoes to pears to pollinator attracting wildflowers.

my favorite little walkway. lemon balm and mint flourish on the left.

Between the greenhouse and our efforts to really make the most of the small space we've got, our urban oasis is becoming more abundant! Here is a virtual tour (via simple photos, no video this time). Drew took them all, I just brightened them and cropped. I love the close-ups.

And as usual, we'd love for you to comment your progress, or link to it on your own blog!

Nasturtium (edible) Bee's Friend--for the bees.

tomatoes are coming!

our boomin' 'gutters'

the peas

broccoli and our potato patch. off the left behind the chicken tractor is a new bed of sweet potatoes--we've never grown those before. Any pointers?

after 5 years of trying, maybe we'll actually get some blueberries this year!

raspberries

and though it seems odd, our Meyer lemon trees are FULL of blooms. We've had these for 3 years and never seen blooms, so, though it seems off season we're hopeful! Homemade Lemon Curd recipes?

Homeschooling Together

2011-05-12T14:19:00.000-04:00

One major thing I've learned about homeschooling this--our first real--year of doing it, is that support is essential. There's more support now than there ever has been, it's abundant on the internet, in the library and fewer and fewer folks look at us cross-eyed when we answer the question, "where do you go to school?"

even the youngest take a lot from it. It's a very one-room-schoolhouse experience.

Most of the naysayers on homeschooling have an opinion about socialization, which probably would have bothered me about homeschool kids when I was in 'normal' school. They always seemed a little quirky, a bit odd, a little un-the-same. That is something I've come to cherish about the whole experience. I don't have to expect my daughter to run home begging for the latest Disney channel craze covered apparel, and sometimes I have to remind her that not EVERYONE her age is familiar with Laura Ingalls...

This year we have been fortunate to participate in a Charlotte Mason group that meets about every 2 weeks. It's been a great resource to encourage the kids in studiousness, and an outlet for Naomi to see that homeschooling isn't so abnormal.

Here is a break down of the term that ended Monday:
Every semester we have a theme, for the past 10weeks or so it was farm animals. Each week we studied one animal, one of Grandma Moses' paintings, the folk song This Land is Your Land, one composition by Aaron Copland, the notion of self-control, and each child recited a poem at each meeting. There were field trips to meet animals first hand, nature studies to learn more about them, games, poetry, and overall a lot of good learning by kids and parents.

following directions--part of the Self-Control exploration. --it's been GREAT having this term defined for Naomi.

some of the chicken studies

Naomi reciting her poem (although, it's better if they can have it memorized)

studying July Fourth by Grandma Moses

(sorry about the not-so-hot pics. the iPod just doesn't work as well as my normal camera!)

On Mother's Day

2011-05-08T22:40:00.001-04:00

What a terrific day! Naomi was so excited about it going to bed last night she could hardly sleep--nice to know she enjoys pampering me...

She made me a lovely card in which Drew helped her list all the ways she knows I love her. I had to hold back a few tears. The girls gave me presents. The Sound of Music on Blu-Ray (cause while we don't have cable, we do have a pimped out movie watching set-up).

And one amazing necklace they picked up at the Indie Market on Friday.

Then, Drew worked on painting our hallway because it is out of control with fingerprints and grime. It's a brighter color that should make the trip down the hallway a little cheerier ;)

Plus, we got to meet up with my family for some ice cream in the country to top it all off; the cousins enjoyed each other with chasing and climbing on haystacks on an marvelous night.

The Beekeeper's Daughter

2011-05-03T20:49:00.000-04:00

Naomi often accompanies Drew out to check the hives. The other day they came home with some 'school' work; more like 'fascinating natural observation material'--or f'nom for short ;)

Anyway, Drew thought to grab some comb with drone larvae in it and they sat at the table and analyzed them together, it was very sweet and Naomi was enthralled.

Then, we pulled out this great book. We love this book, the images and information can't be beat! It really helps clarify the inner workings of the hive in a way that kids can understand.

We love impromptu learning...

Other great nature kid books we've noticed lately:

Where Do Chicks Come From?
The Umbrella
The Wheat Doll(this one is just a sweet story with a hint of the natural).
Smudge, the Little Lost Lamb

What's on your summer reading list?

*side note: the links should send you to Better World Books--a company I think has a good thing going, not to mention, great prices! just so you know...

Share Your Garden Post Sunday

2011-05-01T20:27:00.000-04:00

When your seedlings fail there is an air of disappointment that makes you feel like giving up, forgetting about this season's garden and moving onto a different passion. Usually, you eventually give into the irresistible seedlings available at local farmer's markets or hardware stores because nothing beats vine-ripened tomatoes. Well, that has been our experience in all the years past.

Not so this year. This year we tell a different tale, and the possibilities are unveiling themselves daily! For example, because we've had such success with our new seed-starting methods (i.e. the grow light adjustments and sweet greenhouse blessing), we have broadened our own horizons. So far, all the seeds we've planted have thrived and it's thrilling! Just goes to show that good things come to those who are persistent (keep in mind we have been doing this seed-thing for over 6 years).

Today's new venture? Well, upon recent cleaning of the fridge we discovered a bag of medicinal herbal seeds that we purchased and used about 5 years ago. Now, we knew they were kicking around in there, but we didn't have a lot of success with them during the first trial, so they'd been neglected. Some Chamomile, Valerian, Feverfew and Milk Thistle--some of which still litters our yard. But, we're thinking with the aid of the greenhouse we may have some actual herb activity! We'll keep you posted, their age may prove a detriment...

Here's what we're hoping will sprout:

What have you planted recently? Please add a link to your recent garden-related post!

Drying in the Wind

2011-04-29T08:00:00.003-04:00

pretty daikon flowers

The other day I came home to a sweet surprise. Jewelry? Flowers? Chocolate? nope. my truly romantic husband bought me a clothesline. I've been pestering him for some time about getting one of the 'square' ones. We've had lines strung from the swingset the the apple tree in seasons past, but with more of our yard being consumed by potato plants, chicken tractors, and raspberry bushes it just wasn't working anymore.

this may not have been the best time to use it, but with our wickety-wack weather lately it's been nearly impossible to get 3 sunny/dry hours in a row...

So, he stumbled across one of these umbrella style dryers at the hardware store and brought it home. Can I tell you, I had no idea how perfect it would be for our tight spot! First, it's square-ish, so it doesn't sprawl across the lawn. Second, it collapses in an umbrella type manner that makes it even smaller. Third, and this I had NO idea was a possibility, it comes out of it's little sleeve in the ground to be stored away neatly when not in use...amazing. Oh wait, I forgot one other bonus--it spins! Meaning VERY easy clothesline accessibility. Love it.

Just thought some of you eco-friendly folks would want a little review of this modern marvel--meets nature friendly technology! Now I need to make one of these...

Oh, and Drew made a Daikon Radish Recipe, and I grabbed some pics to share with you.

2011-04-27T08:38:00.001-04:00

Just a note to let you know that I have been honored by an interview over at Still Parenting with Arianne!

Hope you'll stop by there and see...thanks again Arianne--it was enlightening thinking on your great questions!

Garden Growing and Making Unleavened Bread

2011-04-24T15:00:00.004-04:00

everything is getting greener...

daikon, new tomato seedlings, repotted plants, lettuces...

happenings in our garden? well, we've planted some of our awesome--and I can say that knowing how we've struggled to figure it out--tomato seedlings in actual beds and repotted a bunch more. Thinking about selling the extras, if we find people interested in heirloom, organically grown goodness...

LEARNED: it took us a few days to identify one of the plants we sowed a month ago. Turns out it's Daikon Radish. Drew looked for more info about it, and while there are loads of recipes, it's also a great plant for cover cropping. Its roots delve down, even through really tough soils like clay breaking it up, then you can let them rot & your beds are ready for the next growing season. (this process can be stinky, apparently, keep that in mind!)

I stole the below pictured lettuce from the garden and this guy didn't seem to thrilled about it...

Drew and the girls whipped up some 'tortillas' which we think are probably more authentic to what the Israelites would have eaten during this season...

It was SO yum.

and the bread combined with the lettuce combined with some hummus and some homemade falafel topped with a smidge of ketchup--well, it was a very nice dinner.

How are things growing in your garden? Please share! Link below.

Pesach Semeach

2011-04-21T08:42:00.000-04:00

I won't go into a lot of detail about our Passover meal this year, it wasn't traditional at all, but it was magnificent! Friends and new experiences and LOTS of learning. I think we all are feeling like we walked away a little more in tune with the original Passover experience, a little more in touch with what it all represents...

Matzo Brei
I think I made this a long time ago, but I don't remember liking it. This time it was good. Pretty much just soggy broken matzo pieces dipped in a egg/milk/cinamon/vanilla mixture and cooked like a pancake. So, Passover french toast...it was delicious.

Our first real Nature Table
I designated this table a while back, but it was filled with seedlings and a grow light until last week. This morning the girls and I added everything you see here. We blew out some eggs, added our hens that represent our actual hens outside (I purchased those a few years ago from here), added select books commemorating the season, crafted birds and baby Moses'.

A simple baby Moses in a walnut shell floating down the silky Nile...before its waters were turned to blood--of course.

the Renewal of Every Spring & our winner!

2011-04-12T22:28:00.003-04:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in the little garden giveaway! Sonja said...
I just found your blog this morning and love it. I look forward to reading more in the future.

Thanks Sonja! I hope you do continue to visit! & make sure I get your address so we can ship off your little garden!

In other news, we've been spending our time this week getting ready for Passover. It's a big holiday for us, and the build up is half the fun! Over the past month we've been careful about the things we bring into the house from the grocery store because in a few days we're purging all the leavened items from our home to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread..

While planning is important to avoid throwing out loads of leavened items, the actual act of cleaning our house in a way that removes every last crumb, or shred of 'chametz' is such a physical way of representing a spiritual state. We clean it up, throw it out ,and wipe our hands of it; it represents a renewal of spirit and a cleansing like no other. It's such a story of salvation. Leaven represents sin, and the idea that leaven is permissible throughout the year with this one chance at true purging just reiterates the expectations of the Creator. To know us so well--and how like leaven our sinful nature permeates our lives; Passover gives us this opportunity to purge and really represents the grace we all depend on, the opportunity we are offered to just throw that away and start fresh. Sure, the leaven will return, but in the upcoming week we will focus on life without leaven--life free of the crumbs in the corner or hidden stashes in the back of the freezer, which we always find at some point during the week we live without it, more great imagery...

Anyway, it's a special time of year for most right now, even if it's just spring cleaning. This change of season resonates renewal and I welcome that! Are you feeling a renewal coming?

A Virtual Greenhouse Tour

2011-04-10T08:45:00.005-04:00

Don't forget the How Does Your Garden Grow giveaway--ends Tuesday! Nasturtiums, Sunflowers and other organic wildflowers to attract the bees to your garden...

But for today, a first! We spontaneously decided to film a little tour of the greenhouse, so take a second to watch, if you're interested. Drew is quite the host ;)

We've also got some real activity in the garden beds. The Sugar Snap Peas are starting to climb.

The lettuces, carrots, radishes, broccoli, etc. are all starting to really turn into recognizeable plants! Can't wait to harvest a few things. We did pluck the first asparagus shoot the other night when we were enjoying time outside. We all enjoyed a piece of it, it's SO much different when you eat it straight from the garden, now if we only had enough to add it to a meal!

Don't forget to link up if you have a garden post--we'd love to see it!

Nomes Gnomes. Handmade Bead People

2011-04-08T08:34:00.001-04:00

We bought some polymer clay and I had a plan to make beads. I've never done it before and it was probably wrong of me to assume it'd be as easy as I'd thought. Well, it wasn't hard, but as with most crafts, it led us in its own direction...

First we rolled out our four colors in relatively equal strands, smooshed them and rolled the big roll out to be round.

We started out making cut/sliced beads, but we got a little bored and so we started rolling the slices to make rounder beads, snakey ones, twirly, twisty, etc.

Then, Naomi rolled one and she determined it to be a gnome. Well, that started us on a gnome making frenzy...and, how could we not. Gnomes are cute enough, but when they're tiny gnomes?!

They've been baked and now we've got several .5inch Gnome men and women.

We used them to make necklaces this morning.

One for Leviah

One for Naomi

and one for Mama.

A simple project that can be worn! (the additional beads were from a Haba bracelet from a thrift store that's been stretched out and laying around for some time...waste not, want not! toadstools and clovers fit the gnome theme perfectly)

don't forget to scroll down just a bit and comment for a chance to win some sweet garden goodness before you go!

Making Art Because

2011-04-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

So, I took the last session of an 8 week pottery course I took at the local Cultural arts center. I highly recommend it, making pots that is. I've always known about my love of clay manipulation, but it's been over 8 years since I last did it and what a reminder I had...turns out (no pun intended) I love it. Also, note that it's NOTHING like riding a bike, particularly throwing, it is a start-back-at-the-beginning type of thing.

But, there are just so many translate-able parts of pottery--things that represent themselves in life; balance, patience, embracing the unknown, focus, eliminating distraction, participating in the process, following the clay and letting go of the preconceived notions...

I'll share some pics of more completed items, maybe next week. I'll have to go back to the studio to tie up some loose ends.

I've also been playing a lot with this Instagram tool, which is pretty sweet. It makes you feel like you have 12 cameras in one. If you have an iPod or iPhone, it's free and you can follow friends--of course. It's a sweet surprise to see an unexpected picture of a friend on my phone, just for fun. Here's another with instagram and one that just has beautiful filtered light--the room was amazing.

How Does Your Garden Grow Giveaway

2011-04-04T13:15:00.001-04:00

Inspired by Spring and our excitement about the bustling that is happening in our own garden, I wanted to do a little giveaway. So, I put together an egg carton filled with organically planted seeds just waiting for you.

The seeds included are wildflowers and edibles; they only need your loving watering to get started! Just place the carton in a window sill with plenty of sun and let this recycled 'greenhouse' do its work! Once they sprout, replant them in the place of your choosing!

TO ENTER: feel free to do all 3, but comment once for each!

Comment below
Post a link to your latest gardening post in the linkie section (we plan to have this linkie and an update on our own garden every Monday. We hope you'll continue to stop in and share your links as well! It's great using each other for a 'community' garden of sorts)
Follow or add our blog to your blog roll

of course, when you linkie, you can add this darling button to your post for fun.

We'll choose the winner Tuesday, April 12th.

Not so-well Knit & And Ode To Treasuring.

2011-03-29T20:38:00.003-04:00

I knit this aviator cap a few weeks ago for the new one and while I enjoyed (throat clearing) it, I think it was for all the wrong reasons. The pattern, for me, seemed off. Again, I am a novice knitter and everything I do know I learned here or via the internet at large. So, the hat seems wonky--which I knew about 16 rows in, but it's not in my nature to 'frog'--as they say. I'm too hopeful that what seems lost may be found.

Anyway, still need to add a tie via an idiot chord--should be able to swing that ;) and maybe next time I'll follow this pattern and have more success...(seriously, what's with the point?!)

And I just wanted to share a treasury that I put together in memory of my Grandfather. It's the second one in a series (the other is Ode to Ethel, his sister, my great aunt). The whole process is pretty sweet, seems simple enough to create a treasury, but it takes me time and brain power to think on things I don't like I should. For me each person was whole and complete and I can nearly smell them when I think about them, but for anyone else these little odes are a glimpse into their story...

Notes from Before.

2011-03-27T19:47:00.001-04:00

Before I'm done, that is.
I'm 31 weeks pregnant which leaves me with a few thoughts, things I knew about pregnancy from before, things I know about having children, and the other side--the things I don't know.

the way I see 'it'.

What I don't know:

If I'm truly prepared

What life with 3 kids will look like.

If my 'other' dreams are just that.

If the 2 girls I already have will be angry.

If it's a boy or a girl. (though, when I manage to leave the house there are usually MANY who claim 'oh, it's a boy' just by looking at me--where will they be when a girl shows up and I've consigned all the girl clothes?)

What the baby's name will be.

If I'm ready.

If I've gotten rid of too many things.

If this baby will be as difficult as Leviah or as easy as Naomi.

If homeschooling will be put on a back burner for months while we adjust.

If my seemingly short temper will grow back.

What I do know:
Who the father is ;)
We'll love this baby
I'm no good at being pregnant
I am not one of those who gains only 15pds and loses it within 3 days of birthing or look like Angelina Jolie in this movie.
The baby will nurse--it will hurt for a bit.
Some women can't have babies easily--I am fortunate.
Some women don't get sick--they are fortunate.
If it's up to me, I doubt I will do this again.
What I want for this baby is much different than what I thought I wanted for my first.
It will be born at home.
We will be ok.
Our family will be fuller and I'll feel again the way I did when we had our first family movie night after Leviah was born--that more is better, and going back would feel empty.

^"13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ ... Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well."

Psalms 139

I take comfort in verses like these while we wait.

Tomatoes: a gardener's pride.

2011-03-24T14:46:00.001-04:00

This post was written by Drew, per my request for him to document the garden happenings.

Add your recent garden update link, please.

This is the first year so far that we have ever been able to have seedlings grow well. Particularly Tomato seedlings, and like all gardener's, they are really the pride and joy of the summer crop, so to pull of starting from seeds is a big deal.

These are the changes that made the difference:

We took last year's grow light and, after much research, moved it down; way down to about 2" from the top of the pots. We also kept the seeds covered with plastic until the seedlings sprouted up, when it was possible. The light is on a timer that runs from 4am to 8:30pm which, when they were started, was way more light than what we had in a day. Thanks to longer days, we are starting to catch up to that now.
We didn't use the starter peat moss stuff. This time we just used organic potting soil and newspaper pots that a friend made for us.
Once the first signs of the secondary leaves began to sprout I gave them a dose of organic fertilizer. It stinks really bad but seems to work pretty well.
This is the step I am a little uncertain of: we moved them out to the green house. The thing is that we don't heat it so if the temp. drops out there all the seedlings are going to freeze. We keep a close eye on the weather forecast & so far, so good. With the temps we have been having everything is loving it out there. Now we just need to make sure to vent when it gets real warm--the other day it was 120 in there and nice and humid--perhaps a smidge too warm.

Our handy 'gutter' system allows us (kids included--they generally fight over the chore) to pour compost tea in the top tray and it trickles down to all the plants and then back in the bucket to be used again.

We've got peppers and tomatillo seeds started. Last year we tried the minimally successful method of stacking boxes with the potatoes, this year we're trying the old fashioned method of growing the potatoes in the ground and some are now poking up through the straw--very exciting; plus, there's less lawn to mow!

HOMEBIRTH: My sister had her baby

2011-03-21T15:05:00.000-04:00

The plan wasn't for me to be at the birth. Either way, I was just excited to have a nephew and that my sister was going to be able to have a birth experience that didn't leave her feeling inept, hurt, and angry at the things she was denied control of.

But, I was there for the very end--the part where all the pain, the hours of counting contractions, measuring dilation, walking, moaning, bathing, squatting and praying all pay off, I was a witness. About 10 minutes after I got there Gabriel was born, and I've never seen that before. Sure...I've done it, but how can one fully understand it without seeing it? One minute there's a baby inside my sister, the next, well--there's not! And I wasn't distracted by the deliriousness that a mother feels when the process is near complete, I was attentive and aware.

My 'method' of birthing with Leviah (#2) called on a lot of hypno-birthing ideas. I prayed, I whispered, I envisioned artwork and the hand of my Creator. All this made it possible for me to focus. I don't know what techniques my sister relied on, I haven't yet asked, but birth is generally not painless or carefree but such is the nature of life. For the same reason I believe it's important to witness, if not participate in, the butchering of an animal to grasp the coming and going of breath; birth was much the same.

Interwoven in the excitement of the baby coming out, between the screams, enveloped in the moments of brief silence there's an anticipation. We have faith all will be well, but it isn't all for us to decide what MUST be. The breath of life comes as a gift, it comes without our complete understanding; and the miracle--oh my.

I walk day-to-day believing that I cannot rely on my own providence, nor on any man's. I believe this, but watching a baby being born, well, believing and knowing might not be just the same.

It is an amazing blessing to have family, to have children and to have life. It is a gift that can be painful and inconceivably difficult, but in the moments it takes a lamb to breath it's last breath after slaughter, and in those moments it takes for a child to rely on its own lungs there is an undeniable connection that I hope everyone has a chance to know...

Needle Felted Queen Esther Crowns and the Beautiful Day.

2011-03-20T20:44:00.000-04:00

It's traditional to dress like Queen Esther, or one of the characters from the story, so we had to finish up our crowns...

I cut a simple pattern out of paper (folding in half again, then using a straight edge to draw the 'peaks')

then, I cut some simple 'jewels' out of felt & put Naomi to work.

We attached a band of elastic with my sewing machine and they were ready to go! Simple enough...

I've already warned Naomi that the other plastic/ridiculous crowns we have kicking around are going. We're slowly weeding out the junky play clothes in favor of sturdier and more modest ones. The older Naomi gets, the less I like her flouncing around in some of those extremely skimpy ones!

Here are a few pictures of our all our Queen Esthers, Hamantaschen, and an around beautiful day. (There were some handmade dresses (note the gold) that were extremely adorable--I should have taken the opportunity to create something for our dress-up chest that could be reused...maybe next year!)

Listening to the story of Esther and shaking noise makers (groggers) to boo the name of Haman.

Everyone in the group brought Hamantaschen for our bake-off. There was pumpkin, chocolate, cherry, strawberry, and chocolate 'bump'. All were good in their own way, but I'm going to claim pumpkin as the best filling and Mr. Watkin's cookie as the best cookie.

there were no complains from Leviah.

and filling paper hamantaschens with candy is another special treat! We did this last year, and while I forgot, Naomi didn't. So, before we left for the park she reminded me to bring all the supplies! I guess that's how traditions really get started...

Purim! And This Week's Puddles

2011-03-18T14:59:00.000-04:00

It's been an up and down kind of week. Naomi was sick at the beginning and we couldn't identify why. I had a really bad Monday and am still working on letting go and moving on...meanwhile, financially we're in a bit of a tight spot thanks to a booming economy (sarcasm), Drew's work van seems to be breaking down, and it's just been all around hectic. So, I haven't blogged for lack of 'good' things to share--but we all have those weeks and overall we're well aware of the fortune we have been blessed with...

in the greenhouse

But, we get to end this week with Purim. We'll celebrate the story of Esther with friends tomorrow evening, and today we made our contribution to the annual Hamantaschen Bake Off. I have to say, I've never found THE perfect recipe, so we try a new one every year. This year we used a Moosewood one from this book that this friend passed to me recently (who also makes KILLER granola). I'm actually thinking of turning from the original Moosewood challenge in favor of this thick book FULL of what sound like filling and family pleasing meals...

I loved this post about Hamantaschen, but about the recipe we used; it's simple--the simplest I could find and while you really need to make sure you get the consistency of the dough right, the taste is great for such an easy recipe. We didn't make the filling part of the recipe, instead I mixed up some pumpkin pie type filling, and we tried Nutella, per a friend's suggestion. Both are yum, we can't eat many though, as we have to represent tomorrow!
So, dress up like a Queen tomorrow and think about saving your people ;)

and me.

2011-03-13T15:06:00.001-04:00

One last rainbow week post. This is a fun experiment that's simple and fun.

You'll need:

Small tub/container for water (we used a clear tupperware)
A small submergeable mirror
A flashlight White paper Something to prop the mirror at a 45degree angle (rock)
Dark (night time/closet)

Fill the tub with water and prop the mirror against the rock. Turn off all the lights! Holding the paper above the mirror, shine the flashlight into the mirror and move the paper around until you find the rainbow on your paper. The water is refracting the white light as it passes through, separating the colors and making a rainbow!

Here's a treasury to celebrate the rainbow connection. please take a second to admire all the colorful talent! Just in time for Saint Patty's day.

The Dreamers...

2011-03-10T20:46:00.003-05:00

We switched out our coffee filter snowflakes, inspired by Dawn, to rainbow coffee filters. The kids love this little bit of magic--drawing first with markers and then watching the colors spread when spritzed with water. The same method we used to make this butterfly mobile. I think they would have gone on for hours.

Rainbows remind us of a promise:

¹³ I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. ¹⁴ It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; ¹⁵and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. ¹⁶ The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

Genesis 9:13-16

I can see our rainbow study leading us straight into a more thorough study of Noah's Ark. I look forward to taking advantage of free resources like Jan Brett's to cover this theme.

The Lovers...

2011-03-09T19:45:00.001-05:00

This activity helped really solidify the order of rainbow colors. I just cut 6 (as finding indigo colored paper is tricky) pieces of construction paper in descending size, starting with purple. Naomi had to glue them together so you could see each one. We wrote the names of the colors after, and can use this as a little reference 'book' later. Simple learning at its best!

Our Rainbow Connection

2011-03-08T19:38:00.002-05:00

It seems once we pick up a topic we have a hard time leaving it behind. We move on to new things, but we're continually curious about it and constantly adding new projects, ideas and learning. I like this, Naomi is particularly excited when she associates new things with what she already knows. Her excitement can be truly inspirational.

this adorable set is found in Mama May I

A few weeks ago we studied the number 7 and to go along we looked at Rainbows which have 7 colors. Naomi quickly learned the order of the 7 colors and has since become familiar with primary versus secondary colors as well. Seems like an advanced concept, but she is so interested...

For our homeschool group that meets every other week she always learns a poem. We were fortunate to find the following and she recited it perfectly yesterday! We found it in this book, but I'm certain it's in others as well.

The Rainbow

Boats sail on the rivers,

And ships sail on the seas;

But clouds that sail across the sky

Are prettier than these.

There are bridges on the rivers,

As pretty as you please;

But the bow that bridges heaven,

And overtops the trees,

And builds a road from earth to sky,

Is prettier far than these

-Christina Rosetti-

& thanks to Little Acorn Learning we found loads of other great activities in a Rainbow ebook they are offering free! There may be some more rainbow activities posted through the week.

Weekend Fun.

2011-03-04T14:31:00.001-05:00

We have had a traumatizing morning. My ears are literally ringing from all the excitement. Somehow--we cannot figure out the logistics, and it happened in my peripheral sights--Leviah fell, holding a bongo and cut straight through her fingernail. The nail fell off completely and she had to get some stitches.

Anyway, we spent all morning either at the pediatricians or the cosmetic surgeon. These type of events are not good for pregnant women...

Leviah is a trooper and even the doctors were impressed with her composure. I'm a different story, but someone's got to do the crying. She's napping now, so we're just hoping that when the numbness wears off she'll be able to manage the pain alright.

Ugh. But, on an upbeat tone I wanted to share these internet things:

Craftgawker. There is a whole 'gawking universe' and it's amazing to peek through. Anyway, look around when you have a minute--you're sure to find something of interest!

and second, this is the sweet song. Leviah was getting the drum to play along with this one...

HOMEBIRTH: Rally in Raleigh

2011-03-03T13:31:00.001-05:00

Raleigh yesterday: It was great to be there, and I think it was even a good homeschooling lesson! We talked with Naomi a lot about 'government' and how in the US we are free to say what we don't like and try to get things changed (however sometimes our freeness seems just a bit stifled).

But, we spoke with the aide to our Senate representative and hope that that will help bring this issue to attention. We can't expect change if we don't help make the people who represent us aware of the situation.

thank you friends and family, who came to support!

Over 600 people showed to support the cause, and it was a BEAUTIFUL day. Upper 60s, sunshine, and everyone was upbeat. Great, great day. Now...no, not wait. Now, get busy! If you're NC and can take a minute to call, email, write or stop by your representatives office, please do! (find out who represents you here).

We had an opportunity to visit our friends' bakery and Leviah pointed out the beauty of the day.

Simple Sewing and Rhythm of the Home

2011-03-01T08:00:00.002-05:00

Today marks the release of the Rhythm of the Home Spring edition! Great news for those looking for inspiration.

Again, I'm pleased to say I got to participate! To go along with the Sewing Box--inspired by Naomi, of course, I thought I'd post an idea that's simple and fun for little hands and picks up on the hedgehog theme i keep gravitating towards. How can one resist?

This hedgehog requires only brown and white felt, a few buttons and some glue.

Cut out the body shape of a hedgehog out of the white
Cut a bunch of little triangles out of the brown.
Using tacky glue, start gluing the triangles to the rump of your hedgehog, layering them as you get towards it's head.
Allow time to dry.
With a needle and thread, help your child sew on the button for eyes and a nose and done!

Things to do with your new hedgehog:

: :Add magnetic stripping to make a sweet fridge decoration

: :Make more hedgehogs, and other animals to add to your felt board

: :Sew the hedgehog to a barrette clip to wear in your hair

: :Or a pin, for your jacket...

Making things with your kids can be magical! Their perspective is so unique and can really sparkle when you take on these projects together, Naomi had a completely different vision of what her hedgehog should be. She insisted on 2 eyes and I love how it turned out.

GARDEN: Biodynam-what?!

2011-02-27T20:55:00.001-05:00

We're starting to get the bees ready for Spring. Pollen patties and sugar water have been added to the hives, the new hives have been ordered while the old ones have been cleaned up. It's weird to think that in February Spring is here, but nature knows best. The bees are always the first sign. If you sit by a hive for a little while on a warm day you will see them bring in pollen. In early February they will drink sugar water like crazy and roll around in pollen--they will go for any food source you offer them. Once the first trees (in our case the red maple) start to bloom, they hardly touch anything we give them. This is my favorite time of year because now we know spring has arrived.

When Valentine's day came we even began to plant peas and the other spring veggies, right into the ground. This year we are going to start the conversion to BD, no that's not a disease. Bio-Dynamics is a method of farming/gardening that incorporates the spiritual into working the land. It's new to us, and another aspect of Steiner's (creator of the Waldorf methods) research. We have just started learning this past year so are by no means experts, but I will attempt to explain what I understand.

If you look up into the sky at night you will see a host of stars, if its clear anyhow. These stars form constellations and are made of planets too. Each planet, just like the moon and the sun, reflect certain cosmic forces down onto the earth at very specific times. So, when a certain planet aligns with or against the moon or sun certain forces are reflected strongly towards the earth.

These forces can be broken up into a few different days. In no particular order they are leaf, root, flower, and fruit. So, depending on when and where the planets, moon, sun and constellations are you plant certain things. Example: if you want good tomatoes, you plant them on a fruit day. Ever had a really good tomato crop one year and the next year did everything exactly the same but had a bad crop? It could be that you planted the tomatoes the second year on different kind of day. That is one part.

This book is fantastic for learning/explaining the processes

The other part, the part that has really attracted us to this method of gardening, is the idea that there is more to the earth than dirt. That just because you cant see something does not mean it does not exist. The earth--the 'dirt', has a spiritual element to it. This element needs to be acknowledged and respected, just as we work the physical soil we also need to work with the spiritual realm of the garden/farm to help heal the earth. When we can restore the right balance in the soil and plants we will be able to once again have produce that restores our bodies and the planet more effectively. The produce will have spiritual nourishment along with the physical.

Of course, we apply our faith to our life in a very physical way (what we eat/don't eat, what we wear, when we celebrate, etc). All of this connects us very spiritually to our faith, and in turn our understanding of nature has come to incorporate. In learning about Rudolf Steiner, while some of his particular word choice is different than ours may be, it rings of the same theme--we are spiritual beings living in a spiritual place. There is a Creator who has breathed life into this planet and if we recognize our connection to it, we'll in another sense realize more fully our connection to Him.

So, to take on Biodynamics in our own garden there is quite a bit that needs to be done. First with planting times, then with composting and other additives. We are going to try and document all this change this spring. Any advice or questions would be greatly appreciated!

One more thing: we'd love to see what's going on in your gardens! We're hoping that you'll share with us, perhaps every Sunday. If you'd like to participate by sharing a link to your recent garden update, please post a linkie here! (& reference it on your blog, if possible).

HOMEBIRTH: Petition HOMESCHOOL: Incorporating a Toddler

2011-02-24T19:25:00.001-05:00

On the homebirth front: The topic hasn't left my mind for more than a 20minute period, but things are happening. There's a new petition (note in right sidebar--please sign!), and, there's a march next Wednesday in Raleigh. Please spread the word if you're a local!

On the homeschool front: Things seem to be coming into place. There are specific crafts we do each week to incorporate letters, numbers, stories, poems and I have to say, I think we're really getting comfortable with it all. Naomi understands more and more that school is school, and while we still have days of turmoil and frustration, overall her attitude is mellowing. The most important thing for me is embracing what works for us and not dwelling on what I think SHOULD work for us.

One of the major parts of making school work around here is including Leviah. She is eager to participate and while it's sometimes easier to wait for naptime, I often feel she benefits nearly as much as Naomi from our daily 'lessons'. If I can think of ways to adapt it for her, she generally responds with more enthusiasm than her sister which is a great influence...

Today one of our simple crafts was getting popsicle sticks beaned-up with the appropriate number of beans (like here). Naomi seems to really get math, and *loves* glue, so this was a no brainer for her.
For Leviah, I simply drew some circles all over a piece of paper and her job was to get a bean in/on each one. Then we played a similar game with shapes. She was really intrigued with this. Of course, making a mess with beans is always appealing.

Less Intense

2011-02-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

While the topic of which direction will take in terms of this upcoming birth is still hot around here, I want to switch back to a less depressing topic...

Silly Leviah. She wants to be like Naomi on sooo any levels...this one is particularly endearing.

And Drew turned these blocks into these.

Wood burning is such a reminder of olden days. Thanks Plain & Joyful Living for the idea!

& check this out (if you haven't already!) honored...

HOMEBIRTH: a Fugitive's Quest

2011-02-21T21:17:00.000-05:00

artwork by Chrissy Butler available here.

If you know me in person, one of the advocacy roles I play is for Homebirth. Many women live in places where homebirth midwives and the services they provide are readily and legally available. NC is not one of those places. It's a complicated issue, I'm going to break it down as best and as concisely as I can.

There are 2 kinds of certified midwives. CNM (certified nurse midwives who began with a nursing degree) & CPM (certified professional midwives who are trained in the field, however pass the same tests & often graduate from the same schools). Now, one is not better than the other, however most CNMs are found in hospitals and healthcare offices--CPM's do just homebirths.
CNM's can be licensed to attend homebirths in NC as long as they have a Doctor back-up.

So, why don't all midwives simply go the route of CNM? well, there are not a lot of Docs jumping at opportunities to back homebirthing midwives for several reasons:

1. Insurance

2. Politics

3. Loss of business

4. General Inconvenience

This leaves the waters in which homebirthing mamas swim very low on options, CNM's can't find backers, backers don't want to support homebirth, blah.

Why am I bringing all these political hot topics out to air? Because I just lost my midwife. My sister just lost hers. Many friends as well. The state we live in arrested the most experienced CPM in the area, disgraced her and has left her to shut her practice's doors. What is my option? To find the one CNM in the area & pay her higher fees (perhaps a cut goes to the back-up doc) or search for another CPM willing to risk her own dignity to provide a woman with what should be an unalienable right. Or to count on the wits of my husband. Or to go to the hospital and go into years worth of debt. Or go to a birth center 45 minutes away and do the same. These are not great options.

More ironic? Had my midwife been 20 minutes south, in a bordering state, her services as a midwife would be respected and completely legal. As it would have been in any of our bordering states. This is a travesty beyond measure and we must make it stop!

I'm not here to lay a claim that all women ought to homebirth, I won't even plug what a marvelous and comfortable and natural experience it can be ;) I simply want to point out that this challenge is one FREE people shouldn't face. FREE people should get to choose their healthcare providers. Licensure programs would suffice at weeding out the frauds. What I am here to say? Well, really I'm here to vent--but are you aware of the situation where you are?

the full story on my midwife is here.

GARDEN: Ingenuity on the Home Front

2011-02-20T22:42:00.000-05:00

first of all: we spent a LOT of moments outside over the weekend. Not all work--lots of play (& bicycle riding).

but we accomplished a great feat. at least it feels nice to have come up with an idea, put it into action, and it seems to be working...

We created these 'shelves' for the walls of our greenhouse. It's not the world's largest greenhouse, perfect size for our backyard garden really, but we want to make sure that we're getting the most benefit from it. So, some sort of shelving system was in order. While building shelves wouldn't have been a horrible option, it'd be difficult to build some that weren't so deep that they crowd the space, and we most likely would have used wood which would have meant we'd need some type of container for the pots & water on top. It all sounded pretty costly...

So, we've been thinking. Inspired a little by a friend who used gutters as bookshelves in her room, and a little by this toy the kids enjoy, we came up with the above pictured contraption. You water at the top and it flows down, through a hole into the next gutter keeping all our little seedlings watered thoroughly. Best part is we can line all the walls of the greenhouse with them as we have the need.

What did we have to buy?

1 2x4 board
1 10foot piece of aluminum gutter
4 gutter supports
4 gutter end caps

Total cost: approx $12 & for $6/2 shelves we can add to our hearts content! It's terrific, really. Not to toot my own horn or anything--but for once my ideas were the major contributors to solving our garden needs. I think we both walked away feeling like engineers.

Spring is in the air around here--on top of these seedlings we have many sewn in our garden beds. It is still February, but surely the trees wouldn't be budding and the bulbs wouldn't be peeking through if it weren't time for new growth!

{this moment}: Impromptu Jam Session

2011-02-18T07:30:00.001-05:00

this was all Naomi's idea ;)

A Table House for Little Folk

2011-02-16T22:31:00.000-05:00

a cozy place for a rest. they pack it full of blankets, pillows, and an assortment of toy kitchen supplies...

When I was 5 my best friend had a house that fit over a card table. I thought it the greatest. thing. ever. There aren't a terribly many toys that stick out in my mind, but this is one I've always wanted to mimic for my own children.

peeking through the curtains.

Now-a-days there are magnificent ones available from great shops, like this one. They are truly works of art!
And recently the Artful Parent posted her creation as well & so the fire was lit.

The front door.

There's another fire: nesting. Not only have I been relatively productive due to that unavoidable nudge from nature, there's a lingering fear that what I don't get done before this new baby comes I will never get done. Perhaps you hadn't heard...babies are time consuming. So, in order to help fill the hours of time in which I won't be able to direct my attention solely towards them, I'm working on things I think will help Naomi & Leviah remember I love them in the midst of predicted neglect...

It's made entirely of an old sheet and other scraps I've had kicking about--hence the mismatchiness. I think it adds charm ;)

It feels good to accomplish something from the 'stacks'. Now what will fill it's place? What have you been up to?

Hedgehog Rolls Are the Cutest Snack Ever.

2011-02-14T21:14:00.002-05:00

We did play a little with heart related things today.

(naomi loves copy work and I NEED to point out what a wonderful day I had with her. perhaps she's beginning to turn the corner and return to comfort).

We even found these coloring pages to tie in our main focus with love & valentine's.

In a book in which I was hunting out our Monday baking day option in, I came across the following project. We had so much fun making these little creatures--it will be hard to eat the last one! But, baking them again will be NO problem.

They just kept getting cuter...

and cuter....

cuter still...

irresistibly adorable.

To make your own? Just make your favorite roll recipe (a yeasty one).

Roll the dough into balls about the size of a large lemon
brush with a milk/egg wash
pinch and squeeze one end to form the face
snip about 1/2 inch deep with scissors at a 45degree angle from the back side.
Add the cranberries/currants/raisins/etc (make certain to press firmly!)
Bake according to the recipe, and delight your kids, family and friends! Naomi kept trying to think of good reasons to have a party just so we could share them. Surely we'll think of something, beyond just the rolls, sometime!

And--if you're already celebrating love today, Annette--you have another reason! You win the giveaway! Just make sure I have your address and I'll ship it out pronto.

Sheep Shorn, Slippers Felted, Fellowship

2011-02-13T20:30:00.001-05:00

The sheep are always fun to visit and it was a much warmer day than last year! Still, there was a chilly breeze that apparently brought us the beautiful weather of today.

Even babies are being born already, which serves as a reminder of what's to come in our lives. Not that looking down isn't enough...

Leviah got a lot more out of it than she did last year & Naomi was asking such great questions! It's amazing how much our own children have changed since the last shearing.

It was nice bumping into friends while we were there...

Back at the homestead there was napping, finishing up these slippers for Naomi, and then having friends over for great fellowship and study. I'll admit that I wasn't really in the mood for company, but our conversation was exactly what I needed to lift my spirits. Delving into the depths of the scriptures and our faith is like deep meditation, and even when we can't answer every question definitively, just opening our spirits and having friends to do that with is like water to a dry soul. Not that I'm particularly dry, but I was very thirsty yesterday ;)

& one last time to remind you of the giveaway. & to warn you that the nesting has apparently kicked in full force and I'll have a few more complete projects to share this week!

Difficulties

2011-02-10T13:07:00.001-05:00

i've been looking through old photos-they help me reconnect.

I love Naomi with all my heart--obviously. I'm sharing here what is difficult to admit--that we struggle. Our days are not filled with moving from one task to the next in a way that is calm and beautiful. Often the activities I look most forward to are the ones the break my heart a little, the ones I think she'll be eager to accomplish and I'm surprised to get convulsions. A leg kick, a body twitch--the movements of someone who may be better suited to straight jackets than homeschool. She knows these movements drive me out of my mind, and on some occasions I come with an open heart and preparedness to use calm tones and gentle reason to snap her out of it--not on all occasions. Sometimes, and maybe it's the short-temperedness of pregnancy (golly, I hope this is part of it), but sometimes I don't deal well at all.

Granted, we do manage to get some 'work' done most days, but generally I've been putting it off more and more. We read a lot of books, I'll give her some workbook assignments, but she does NOT want to follow my instruction with regards to just about anything.

So, I've been reading around on the '6 year change' and so far I am hugely relieved. I mean, the girl has only 1 front tooth landing her right in the middle of some really big physical and emotional changes. I could cry just thinking about how little I feel I know about her right now, how I don't know what to expect or even how to recognize her old self underneath it all. There are moments she gleams through with the glorious person I know she'll get to, but these past few months have been such a challenge.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm so thankful for having found the Waldorf community. Although we're not the strictest waldorfians, not understanding this change would probably give me a great reason to give up on our homeschooling dream right now. Not having resources like groups, other bloggers with similar struggles, and books brimming with insight I might just throw in the towel right about now.

Still a few days in the giveaway!

Anticipation Gardening

2011-02-08T14:31:00.000-05:00

The plan is made.

The seeds are in. (from here)

The pots are filled. (make your own with this)

More sprouts are sprouted.

Let the gardening begin. In February.

Have you started your garden yet?

enter to win this sweet book before you navigate away...