tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25393205172012567322024-02-07T19:00:18.595-05:00 Homegrown LifeHomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.comBlogger401125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-37558233213730661412021-09-21T18:11:00.002-04:002021-09-21T18:11:39.421-04:00the teeth tell the tale<div>When I first heard about the connection between nutritional status and dental health I wept.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr. Weston A. Price said that the “teeth tell the tale”— the story of our health and wellness. Crooked, crowded and decaying teeth are most often a symptom of a modern diet (as compared with a traditional diet) where eating “displacing foods” like white flour and sugar, pasteurized and skimmed milk, refined and hydrogenated vegetable oils, jams and canned and processed foods is common.</div><div><br></div><div>I’m re-reading his book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration from 1939, a book that recounts his experience time and again of discovering that when the “displacing foods of modern commerce” were introduced into a healthy population group that there was a CORRESPONDING IMPACT ON THEIR TEETH.</div><div><br></div><div>Providing nourishing foods is vital in the early years to help with proper bone and jaw development, well-spaced teeth, a wide dental palate and for teeth to come in straight and free of decay.</div><div><br></div><div>It is also vital for the period leading up to conception and during pregnancy + lactation. This is where I went terribly wrong. In the early years, I was eating low-fat, including lots of grains, and craved sweets daily. I was way off base. </div><div><br></div><div>So, which foods and nutrients will help to nourish a growing body? Key nutrients include fat-soluble Vitamins A, D and K, Choline, DHA, Zinc, Tryptophan and Cholesterol. Most of them are found in foods like: </div><div><br></div><div>+ cod liver oil</div><div>+ real (raw) milk </div><div>+ high quality dairy</div><div>+ liver</div><div>+ butter from grazing cows </div><div>+ egg yolks from pastured chickens </div><div>+ fresh seafood</div><div>+ meat from grass-fed animals</div><div><br></div><div>The struggle is real— our family feels it. Providing nutrient dense foods to young children is not easy. It helps to start young— many families choose liver as a first food for their baby! Don’t despair if you are a mama of older children and want to add in some nourishing foods— it’s never too late!</div><div><br></div><div>Over the last 3.5 years I have been seeing a holistic dentist to repair the damage that was done from not preparing my body for pregnancy and for not prioritizing (true) nutrient dense foods during pregnancy + lactation.</div><div><br></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Looking for a good starting point to learn about traditional, nutrient dense foods? This list will help</span><span class="s2">👇🏼👇🏼</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">+ The Weston A Price Foundation </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">+ Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston A Price</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">+ Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">+ The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby and Child Care by Sally Fallon Morell and Dr. Thomas Cowan</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">+ Cure Tooth Decay by Ramiel Nagel</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">+ find a holistic dentist at https://iaomt.org/</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">+ find raw milk at realmilk.com</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">+ find local farms at eatwild.com</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">yourself!</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Please do your own research! Do question modern dental and nutritional practices! Be the gatekeeper of your home mama</span><span class="s2">💪🏼</span><span class="s1">You are the decision maker for what comes into your home, your body and your children’s body. It is worth the time to read and educate </span></p></div><div><br></div> HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-88696416634344824052021-07-25T23:16:00.001-04:002021-07-25T23:16:56.894-04:00can I just say—
+ vacations are exhilarating
+ vacations are exhausting
+ you never know which kid is going to be the type to take all of the shampoos and soaps from each hotel
+ someone is always gonna forget their toothbrush and start surveying who’s mouth so the cleanest so they can borrow theirs
+ it’s always a good idea to locate the closest urgent care each time you check into a hotel
+ there will be a point during the trip when you question why you came on the trip (or why you didn’t make it a couples vacation)
+ feeding a big family is expensive— like a huge portion of the budget goes here so doing lose your mind when you get that bill for the first dinner
+ it’s a good idea to get outdoors as much as possible but not too close to the edge of a cliff
+ finding the closest Trader Joe’s will be something you should do
+ vacations bring out the hyperactivity in your hyper kid, the sullenness in your melancholy kid and the shrieking in your shrieking child— making peace with these realities as soon as possible is best
+ there may be a point at which you’re begging your kids to “put on a nature show or something” when you’re feeling at your whit’s end
+ remember that you are making memories and that’s what counts!!!
.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEdzYkCLzVjOu5BjNUK_ldncmkDho2aXmuz5btzUEZyphcrKthe3ZipEOlYhcNnyt-ulOSLQ2jKZqZFI91UN6TPycFrAh5HBAp3aSGBUA842Ki0o1h-dwzqvUZ4yLBcLxFob1Y7qkl6o/s2048/C1109E46-E6AD-4FBF-9BA0-15E9B5259F30.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEdzYkCLzVjOu5BjNUK_ldncmkDho2aXmuz5btzUEZyphcrKthe3ZipEOlYhcNnyt-ulOSLQ2jKZqZFI91UN6TPycFrAh5HBAp3aSGBUA842Ki0o1h-dwzqvUZ4yLBcLxFob1Y7qkl6o/s320/C1109E46-E6AD-4FBF-9BA0-15E9B5259F30.JPG"/></a></div>HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-35029500108028617872021-07-25T23:14:00.001-04:002021-07-25T23:14:29.737-04:00Often times, when someone thinks of living minimally they think of a home or a life with less THINGS.
While this is true, and also a key to living simply, there is so much more to it. Living simply means living with less overall.
For children, this might look like less toys, less clothing (which means less options and overwhelm when choosing), repairing or pitching broken toys, less media consumption, less exposure to the adult world and simpler foods (aka— whole, nourishing foods without “ingredient lists”).
For me, as a mother and wife, this means owning one set of sheets for each bed, one pair of boots, making mindful purchases (quality over quantity, asking myself if we truly have a need for the item), having minimal decorations and wall hangings, cancelling cable (which we did over a decade ago), making much of our food from scratch and keeping my wardrobe paired down.
Minimalism is such a trend right now— but really it’s nothing new. It’s a return to a simpler way of life and really honing in on what matters most to your family. Creating a simple home doesn’t mean you have to dial back to an old-fashioned era or mimic a lifestyle based on depression-era survival. A paired down home can still be beautiful and welcoming and inviting. It’s something I’ve been working on for over a decade and I feel like I’m still taking baby steps in each of these areas. I’m a work in progress— but I love the direction we’re heading in👌🏼🙌🏽<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnS-AUf4Abgvj88ho3ELABh41YT-jZ2BIq0l7NpqwCyOrY9blVBk2J57pEULGs8wRJbmpOoK2RwNFZDSRwqsr9sw0MG6qGlBYWsCyXJtpd4btHJZXu7lyyMbxNd1VeGzJTgck3AR457tI/s2048/IMG_2064+2.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnS-AUf4Abgvj88ho3ELABh41YT-jZ2BIq0l7NpqwCyOrY9blVBk2J57pEULGs8wRJbmpOoK2RwNFZDSRwqsr9sw0MG6qGlBYWsCyXJtpd4btHJZXu7lyyMbxNd1VeGzJTgck3AR457tI/s320/IMG_2064+2.jpg"/></a></div>HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-66303583609174119992021-07-25T23:12:00.001-04:002021-07-25T23:12:12.913-04:00I AM ANTI VACATION
Well, not really— let me explain. I think that the concept of taking a vacation from one’s home life and job can be quite refreshing. However, for me, it felt quite odd last week to be without responsibility, housework, and any concentrated purpose other than having fun and exploring.
I felt eager to do something useful in the hotel room— make the beds, wipe down the counters— anything to make me feel useful!
Getting to do a load of laundry one of the nights was a delight to me— it felt good to be doing something purposeful.
Some may call this the “Puritan work ethic” or an addiction to being “productive”, but I’m not sure it’s either.
Do you revel in the freedom of vacation or are you like me and have trouble settling into a routine of pure pleasure!?<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cAVmCLaPNOMr7TybM5o27CNEt4E0cshYhJYNhmDcdySINr8V6C3CeHdvnYRfxXc66tp5VUyKr2JflUC_7mRLGDub5prEHNuurWa28YlWUPrG-A2B4qUdHHEQr8D0flv4-B3vfa8gS5c/s1605/79670F24-1078-414F-AFA5-874C88CFA13B.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="1605" data-original-width="1284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cAVmCLaPNOMr7TybM5o27CNEt4E0cshYhJYNhmDcdySINr8V6C3CeHdvnYRfxXc66tp5VUyKr2JflUC_7mRLGDub5prEHNuurWa28YlWUPrG-A2B4qUdHHEQr8D0flv4-B3vfa8gS5c/s320/79670F24-1078-414F-AFA5-874C88CFA13B.JPG"/></a></div>HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-84654303955141777652021-05-11T19:12:00.001-04:002021-05-11T19:39:41.810-04:00good to greatIt’s been nearly two decades of reading Mother Goose, Beatrix Potter, Aesop and Grimm and I’m so happy I have.
These “good books”, in addition to songs, finger plays, poems and the like lay the foundation for later learning and delving into the “Great Books” of civilization.
Once a year I go back and listen to the talk by the late Dr. James Taylor (founder of St. Raphael Orthodox Online School) entitled Good to Great: Teaching Literature from Grammar to Rhetoric and today was that day. He shares that “The good books cultivate the language, the situations of song, rhythm and meter that we will find in the great books”.
So basically Mother Goose lays the foundation for approaching Shakespeare. Fairy tales prepare the soil of the heart and mind for grasping the greater truths of life.
He also makes the point that education is rooted in reality, particularly the reality of the natural world. Many children have not been exposed to things like the stars— so how will they even begin to comprehend the simple rhymes like “Twinkle twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are.”
What is wonder? Do the children of today wonder about the natural world?
There is no rushing this process. We know that education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life. Ensuring that the atmosphere of the home is one in which mama is singing rhymes, exposing her children to beautiful art, ideas and music, taking the children out-of-doors for unstructured play time and reading the Good Books—perhaps starting when her children are in the womb— will give the most beautiful foundation for future educational experiences.
I have linked the talk by Dr. James Taylor in my bio… pour yourself a cup of tea one of these nights, grab a notebook and take a listen to it🕯📖<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKTv-v4go4QWK53ba1OszQ1x72NBIjokttDzZJ6WXSbz-kI4vivdrUb2VTWdVIVgl6jF9_OArUCE2zJPYGFYq34jYxp_s-3ejDIHK1I-3NSpRKIAnnNPOKQnCY0CjPagWuEQ6oNNC-8M/s2048/EAB7E97B-DAFB-4156-9806-377A5AEC1CA7.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKTv-v4go4QWK53ba1OszQ1x72NBIjokttDzZJ6WXSbz-kI4vivdrUb2VTWdVIVgl6jF9_OArUCE2zJPYGFYq34jYxp_s-3ejDIHK1I-3NSpRKIAnnNPOKQnCY0CjPagWuEQ6oNNC-8M/s320/EAB7E97B-DAFB-4156-9806-377A5AEC1CA7.JPG"/></a></div><a href="https://wildflowersandmarbles.com/2014/07/28/good-to-great-teaching-literature-from-grammar-to-rhetoric/"></a>HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-23650845472538482822020-07-26T20:24:00.001-04:002020-07-26T20:24:33.902-04:00my great awakening: a true help meet (part three)This realization was not merely a mental awakening. At the same time I began to feel a tug on my spirit, a call to start a new season of life. I had been, mostly, at home for the last eighteen years, raising, feeding, rocking, washing, reading to and educating my six "babies" (they range from ages 3 to 18 as I write this post) and it felt like living the most beautiful and fulfilling life. But, my children began to grow and become more independent. There were no more babies to rock and my children were blossoming into capable and responsible humans. There were times I wondered if the older children needed me in any capacity at all anymore (this was soul crushing as meeting their needs was all I knew).<br />
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I could feel the margins of my life widening. Pretty soon, my afternoons were filled with hours of free time. My evenings felt gloriously open and full of possibilities. Most of my children were tucking themselves into bed. They were bathing themselves and certainly didn't need mama to wash behind their ears. A few of them were even out of the home working at their job. I felt a tug, a call, to fill them with something meaningful.<br />
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At first, I thought perhaps a "new hobby" would do. Yes, that was it! Something crafty and useful. But no, that was not enough. Perhaps I could return to blogging full time. Now this was thrilling prospect. But no. I knew there was a need to meet and that the meeting of that need- helping to provide financially for my family- was something I was set on. I could see that the ripple effects of having a bank account that could weather a (even a small) storm and the possibility of that felt too enticing to ignore.<br />
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As I sit here today, nearly a year after my "great awakening" I know that God's hand was present in all of this. I can clearly look back on that day when I thought life as I know it was being taken from me and know that God allowed that experience as a catalyst for change. I have to chuckle as I sit here typing, knowing how many beautiful, surprising and humbling things have unfolded since that time.<br />
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A few weeks ago were were able to indulge in a magnificent seafood feast at the edge of the water in a coastal town in our state. Walking up to the window at the marina to order our lunch felt different than it ever had before. Being able to order all of that beautiful food- the fried clams and lobster rolls and clam chowder- for our entire family felt like the most glorious prize. As the servers carried the three, overflowing trays of fresh food to our table I could see the smile on my husband's face. As my boys enjoyed their sumptuous lobster rolls, one of them leaned over to me and said, "Mom, this must have cost a fortune". I smiled as I delighted in another bite of my shoestring onion rings and simply smiled. It was such a simple lunch, perhaps routine- one that most families experience regularly. But for our family, it was the most humbling and joyful of experiences. That lunch meant so much to me- it meant that a gap had been filled; a wanting need met. I had realized what it felt like to be a true help meet to my husband after all these years. And this was a role that I delighted in.HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-72722382505000673142020-07-08T20:30:00.001-04:002020-07-08T20:30:32.219-04:00my great awakening: metamorphosis (part two)<br />
I began to wake up to a reality that had been staring me in the face for nearly two decades. I experienced an enormous disillusionment regarding our family's finances. I suppose if the phrase hadn't already been coined I might be the one to have invented it- "Ignorance is bliss". This seemed to be my motto. For years, I knew we were living on less and that this brought my husband immense physical and mental strain to the point of him experiencing severe insomnia due to the weight of it all. I had felt embarrassed at many points during my adult life when asked about the cost of our town's taxes, our mortgage, of this and that. I never knew the answer. I didn't know because I didn't want to know.<br />
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Growing up in a family where daily disputes revolving around money and the spending of it are etched into my consciousness, money was the proverbial elephant in the room. It was the toy buried in the back of the closet that I never wanted to play with. Perhaps it was too spooky or strange. Either way, I knew I was the one to hide it there.<br />
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Year and years of living aloof was my "happy place". Being unencumbered by the weight of our family's finances made me feel so carefree. I have searched my soul and I think I can honestly say that I didn't even feel guilty about it. I was responsible in every other area of my life, perhaps every good adult had one area where they were "checked out" I secretly thought.<br />
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I suppose I went into some sort of protective cocoon where I was cushioned and protected from the stress of it all. My sacred silky space was where I liked living best.<br />
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It took an immense amount of courage for me to unravel myself and emerge to my present circumstances. Ironically, I has always preached the slogan "embrace your reality", yet I myself was too much of a coward to do so. I had obviously gone into some sort of protective cocoon where I was cushioned and protected from the stress of it all. My sacred silky space was where I liked living best.<br />
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Once my eyes were opened I knew I could never unsee what I did. Never again would I be able to return to the safety of my blissful cocoon because, well, I was a responsible human and now I was met with something that called me up to higher ground. I was faced with something that I had perfected meeting over and over and over again during my years as a mother. Something that I instinctively knew how to solve. I was met with a <i>need</i>.<br />
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Waking up to a truth can be a scary thing. I felt the fear, but I also felt the freedom and joy of stepping into the light. I was an expert at meeting needs. This felt comfortable.HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-6976479807007736792020-07-02T18:52:00.001-04:002020-07-02T18:52:11.256-04:00my great awakening: anything but pity (part one)One of my very favorite things to do as I get older and settle into the comfort and grace of being "forty something" is to <i>pause and reflect</i>. This habit does not come instinctively to me. It is a habit I had to hear about over and over again. Something I was encouraged to do as a "deep thinker". A practice for those who desire personal growth put into place. I believed that reflection was something that was beneficial to our souls and perhaps even be the catalyst for that beautiful thing called <i>gratitude </i>and so I chose to embark on this habit regularly.<br />
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Almost one year ago, certain ideas and impressions began stirring in me that had never done so before. It was an affront on the physical, emotional and mental aspects of ME... of who I was, or who I thought I was. I began to experience a mini health crisis in the early spring that would not resolve until the summer's end and had me reevaluating my life as I knew it. I cannot say that I saw death as an immediate reality, but the sorts of sensations and symptoms I was having certainly led me to a place of realizing that I may be forced to live a life with less quality and control than I had previously believed. My mind was working overtime, taking cues from my body and I believed what they were telling me.<br />
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As I look back, I can see clearly that there was so much beauty amidst that pain. Isn't that the way life goes? Perhaps those few months of horror and struggle propelled me to a place where I was ready to make a change.<br />
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I can remember thinking that I was going to have to share something terrible with my children- something that would alter their relationship with me. Something that would stir up the most repulsive emotion I could imagine a child feeling toward their parent- <i>pity</i>.<br />
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That day never came and I cannot even put into words what that truth feels like. I suppose I can say that it felt like a second chance. Having a new lease on life changed me.HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-34838959969798588802020-04-10T22:34:00.000-04:002020-04-10T22:34:28.988-04:00<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">“Covid-19 is like a rehab intervention that breaks the addictive hold of normality. To interrupt a habit is to make it visible; it is to turn it from a compulsion to a choice. When the crisis subsides, we might have occasion to ask whether we want to return to normal, or whether there might be something we’ve seen during this break in the routines that we want to bring into the future.” - Charles Eisenstein<a href="https://charleseisenstein.org/voice-recordings/the-coronation/">https://charleseisenstein.org/voice-recordings/the-coronation/</a></span>HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-86102662086097466942020-04-07T15:15:00.000-04:002020-04-07T15:26:11.209-04:00Homegrown After All This TimeHello and welcome to my little space!<br />
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I started this blog over a decade ago as a young mother to three small children. I was enlivened at the prospect of home education, homesteading and finding my way as a mother. I had an inkling that I was in a unique season of life. A time where I often felt like I was drowning in an ocean of massive waves as I looked upon the shore- just barely out of reach- watching others frolicking and flourishing. Don't get me wrong. Life was beautiful and I often felt so ecstatic about the family- the life- I was creating that it caused me to stay up late at night and dream about what I wanted mine to look like.<br />
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In addition to the dreaming, there was lots of doing. Doing things for the first time like learning to sew, compiling a home library filled with luscious living books and teaching myself basic cooking skills. It was a time like no other.<br />
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Homeschooling was a new adventure and one that I felt both very passionate and steadfast about, while at the same time harboring secret fears that I wasn't "doing it" the right way. It's funny how time has a way of making one more resilient to fears that are false and strengthening the parts of us that were meant to be.<br />
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As I sit here and write this afternoon, I am anything but new to motherhood and family life. And while I am certainly not a young mother, I am still a mother to the young. Our six children range in age from three to eighteen. We are still homeschooling. Only one is attending school out of the home. One child has graduated. Oh, and by the way- living with ones adult child is a sobering reminder that they are not ours to keep (a lesson that I sorely need a daily reminder of). But alas, they are all six living at home, under our roof and under our authority and guidance- in varying ways.<br />
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I envision this space as a place to share more than what I am posting in snippets on my Instagram page. Perhaps many of the same photos will accompany my blog posts, but I do see the message being different, being more complete. Being more.<br />
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I invite you to join me and to follow along with our family who is still living, growing, thriving- both at home and abroad. Welcome to our homegrown life!HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-3094585252330753602015-08-09T12:08:00.001-04:002015-08-09T12:08:43.555-04:00lackingWell those hazy days of summer have become filled with a lake vacation, a week of sleep away camp for two of my boys, a few day trips down to the shoreline and the celebrating of our oldest daughter turning 14. In between all of these joyous adventures, life has been filled with what my life as a mother of five mostly consists of-<i> recognizing, anticipating and meeting the needs of my family. </i><br />
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In between, there has been a little toilet training support for our toddler, some small home projects and a look ahead to the upcoming school year (okay, more than a just a <i>look</i>).<br />
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This little blog of mine has once again been put on the back burner of my life's priorities. It seems I still have just as much to share, but simply not enough time to blog about those thoughts and realities.<br />
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I have lamented over this fact for a while now. I have despaired about the loss of one of my favorite outlets, my opportunity to write and connect with those who are reading my blog and to share some of my photos.<br />
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So, in the meantime, I have chosen to spend more time posting on my <a href="https://instagram.com/homegrownlife1977/">Instagram account</a>. For me, right now in my life, it is the best way to share a photo, a little vignette about my life or something deeper like my thoughts on a certain aspect of parenting, home education or our current culture.<br />
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Anybody wishing to follow me please may do so <a href="https://instagram.com/homegrownlife1977/">here</a>!<br />
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Any someday, maybe someday sooner than later, I'll be back here in this space sharing about the little and (big ways) our family is growing at home!HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-19584130370563905542015-07-06T15:00:00.000-04:002015-07-06T15:01:04.313-04:00pondering summerAnother summer has begun. The hazy, humid days of another greatly-welcomed New England summer have arrived and as far as I can see they plan to stick around for the duration of the summer months.<br />
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As it happens each year, summer arrives with what I would call <i>mixed emotions</i>. There, of course, is the obvious elation due to the fact that our homeschool year has come to an end and with it the <i>daily narrations, dictation exercises, grammar lessons, math drills and science blocks have</i> also come to a gentle close. </div>
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The arrival of this stretch of <b>non-formal academic days</b> comes as a thrill to both teacher and children alike, there is no doubt. Although at the same time there is a sadness, perhaps even a disappointment, that the grand summer we were all so eagerly awaiting isn't as spectacularly spellbinding as we had expected it to be. It's as if with one uniform sigh I can hear my children questioning, "<i>Is this it? Is this summer"</i>? And it is with an equally keen ear that I can also 'hear' their inner voices (yes, I <i>can</i> read my children's minds from time to time) ever-so-begrudgingly begging for <i>more</i>. </div>
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It is with a bit of shame that I confess that my children have been half-captured by that worldly frame of mind that convince us humans to <b>expect big things.. exciting things... sweet things</b> on their <i>summer vacations</i> (where <i>did</i> the idea and practice of a summer holiday come from anyhow??). Because after all, it is <i>summer vacation</i> (did I mention that yet!?) and we all know that must mean a steady stream of fun-in-the-sun-ice-cream-everyday-spectacular-wet-and-wild-play-non-stop-pleasure (at least during waking hours) and perhaps even a <i>scandalously late bedtime. </i></div>
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So I'm left with several questions. <b>What is it that my children are in need of this summer to give them a sense of purpose and a bit of recreational enjoyment?</b> (I am shying away from words like fun and pleasure and entertainment here). And also, <b>how can I as their mother-teacher help to retrain their way of thinking and direction of their will in this area of pursuing (mostly) pleasurable things and being sorely disappointed when more is asked of them?</b></div>
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These are indeed big questions!</div>
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And because I'm older, more realistic, quite contented to be at home doing beautifully mundane things (on most days), stubbornly resilient to being taken in by the world's messages of what ones' life ought to look life on this day or that day and also because I am maybe (only a tiny bit) wiser than they, I have also<b> found my way to <i>some</i> small answers to these big questions.</b></div>
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I hope to share some of these thoughts this week here on my blog. In fact, I am eager to share what I have only begun to glimpse (and by only, I mean really over the last two or three years). <b>The answers are simple but not always easy. They are inspiring but difficult to implement. </b>And the solutions that our family values could be more likened to giving children their daily spoonful of cod liver oil and less likened to doling out a couple of sugar-laden, fruit-flavored, cartoon-shaped vitamins. <b>The result is often hard to swallow but oh-so much more life giving.</b></div>
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But for now, a few photos from our superbly simple, perfectly sweltering, out-of-doors day from yesterday will be my joy to share.</div>
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HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-57125225769723904372014-10-22T12:01:00.000-04:002014-10-22T12:08:47.865-04:00autumn poem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Poetry. It is one of our most beloved lessons and is often read daily in our home. One of our poetry selections this month is from<i> A Journey Through Time in Verse and Rhyme</i> and has become quite familiar to us after reading it annually over the last few years. It really speaks to what is happening right outside of our window this time of year. </div>
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Just today, as we sat at our table working on some math, we watched a blustery gust of wind sweep away what seemed like a whole tree-ful of orange leaves across our front yard. It certainly left our maple emptier and filled our neighborhood with a delightful scattering of autumn color.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Autumn Poem</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Fall, leaves, fall;</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Die, flowers, away;</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lengthen night and shorten day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Every leaf speaks bliss to me</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Fluttering from the Autumn tree</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I shall smile when wreaths of snow</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Blossom where the rose should grow</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I shall sing when night's decay</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ushers in a drearier day.</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Emily Bronte</span></span></i></div>
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HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-56841472583760330592014-10-01T21:30:00.001-04:002014-10-01T21:31:52.756-04:00Happy October<span style="font-family: inherit;">October begins! There is always a satisfaction
and a little thrill when I am able to turn the calendar page and welcome
a new month. Marking the change of time and the rhythms of the year
with my children is an experience that I take great joy in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">With
the older children now, they know what each month, each season brings.
They know that in autumn the leaves turn from green to gold, crimson and
orange and then fall from the trees. They know that we pick apples each
September and that in October we pick pumpkins and drink apple cider.
They can proficiently state the date each day, both numerically and in
words. They are able to spell all the months, recite little poems about
what each month brings and can place each family member's birthday in
its correct month and day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For the littler ones, the rails are just being
laid. We begin discussing seasons and what each season brings in the way
of weather, activities, clothing and animal life. They learn their
birthday day and month and begin asking how many more days, weeks or
months until it arrives. They begin to anticipate the holidays and feast
days of the Church that come each year and perhaps may venture a guess
at their proper place in the year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And then there are the days of the week. Oh how I
wish that I had a specific day for each household chore like in Little
House or some of the folk stories we read! Monday for washing, Tuesday
for ironing and so on. But alas, I do not. We do however adore reading
these little stories, rhymes and poems about what chores are done on
each day of the week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I suppose it the modern world we have the 'luxury'
of foregoing the rhythm of these chore-days and can clean, bake, shop
and mend on whichever days we feel like doing so!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of our favorite books for laying down a good foundation of the rhythms of the year are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Around-Year-Elsa-Maartman-Beskow/dp/0863156487/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412212459&sr=1-2&keywords=around+the+year">Around the Year by Elsa Beskow</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Through-Time-Verse-Rhyme/dp/0863152716">A Journey Through Time in Verse and Rhyme by Heather Thomas</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Childs-Paradise-Saints-Nectaria-Mclees/dp/0916700526/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412212488&sr=1-1&keywords=a+child%27s+paradise+of+saints">A Child's Paradise of Saints by Nun Nectaria</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We also keep a seasonal book basket in our living
area. I used to keep a larger book crate, but found it to contain too
many books. Now I choose only a few and keep them neatly displayed (with
the cover showing) in a nice little basket. </span><br />
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Each
morning we follow the Scripture readings on our Church calendar and
celebrate the saints commemorated on each day. Oh, and namesdays! Each
child, as well as my husband and I, have a day each year where we
remember the saint we are named after and celebrate. It is just like a
birthday, but even more sacred. HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-46072152760937827582014-06-12T21:21:00.001-04:002014-06-12T21:24:33.156-04:00hats off to warmth for babiesMixed reviews are often interesting to me. Whether in response to our decision to homeschool, or to the welcoming of our FIVE beautiful children or to some of the smaller details of our life, I am often intrigued about the 'why' and 'where' people's questions come from.<br />
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In terms of the smaller details of life, one of the more frequent questions I am asked is why my baby is always (well, almost always) <i>wearing hats</i>.<br />
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Some, like my Nana, are beyond pleased by the fact that my infant Cecelia is perpetually donning her bonnet. She is 94 and must know from old-time wisdom that babies should be dressed in layers with bonnets and booties and the whole-nine-yard regardless of the season (hats aren't <i>just </i>for winter).<br />
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Others seem to ask why and wonder whether she is too hot with her head covered. These well-intentioned observers seem to ask with a mixture of intrigue and skepticism and are always met with a simple and confident answer.<br />
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<i>Babies ought to be wearing hats.</i><br />
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One point that <a href="http://www.youandyourchildshealth.org/youandyourchildshealth/articles/the%20importance%20of%20warmth.html">Susan Johnson, MD</a> makes in regard to keeping our children warm is that-<br />
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“<i>Warmth is probably one of the greatest gifts we can give our
children, not only the warmth of love, but the physical warmth of their
bodies. Children are developing their bodies especially during the
first seven years of their lives. An infant or a young child will
always feel warm unless they are on the verge of hypothermia because
they have an accelerated metabolic rate. If we don’t provide them with
the layers of cotton and wool to insulate their bodies, then they must
use some of their potential “growth” energy to heat their bodies. This
same energy would be better utilized in further developing their brain, <a class="ktg6us78hf8vdu7" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="background-color: #fff7c1; border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid rgb(247, 226, 94); display: inline; padding: 2px;"><u style="border-bottom: 1px solid;">heart</u></a>, liver, lungs and other</i> <i>organs<b>.”</b></i></blockquote>
And just think of a small baby with all of that body heat leaving them through their heads! I truly do attempt to live my life judge-free of others and often strive to give others the 'benefit of the doubt', but I have to admit to cringing a bit when I see small children and babies being brought into air-conditioned stores or out in breezy, cool weather with little more that a romper on and a bare head.<br />
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Of course I just had to share a few photos of Cecelia this spring in some of her many hats. We have wool, cotton, wool-silk and some blends for her to enjoy. Seeing her in these hats makes <i>me </i>feel warm inside knowing that her <b>sense of warmth is being protected.</b><br />
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<br />HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-35287704629212461262014-06-10T21:52:00.000-04:002014-06-10T21:58:10.352-04:00smothered by praiseLast fall for our artist study, we enjoyed the six paintings of Pierre-Auguste Renoir. They were lovely and hung happily on our 'schoolroom' wall for the term along with one of my most favorite quotes from the artist that had to do with the idea that the only real reward for work is the work itself.<br />
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Our beloved Charlotte Mason held a similar belief and felt that children should be motivated by a <b>naturally preserved curiosity</b> and a <b>love for learning</b> rather than rewards and grades. She knew then what many modern researchers are now just discovering- that external motivators affect only the exterior, the short-term. To put it bluntly, rewards simply don't work.<br />
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This article, <a href="http://www.waldorfhomeschoolers.com/five-reasons-to-stop-saying-good-job"><i>Five Reasons to Stop Saying "Good Job!"</i></a>, only confirms what so many others have already discovered. It was with mixed emotions that I read this, feeling simultaneously convicted and confirmed in my own behaviors and tendencies towards praising my children.<br />
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The author asks the reader to stop, look and listen and to notice how often we hear the words "good job" spoken from parent to child at almost every turn. I did just that and not only did I sit up and notice how often others around me are blurting out these words (almost unconciously, or as what the author refers to as a 'verbal tic'), but also how often I was turning this phrase in my own home.<br />
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I have become more mindful over the years of attempting to hold the space in my home with my presence and gestures and modeling of behaviors instead of issuing commands, praising, and talking, talking, talking <i>at </i>my children. This has been life-changing.<br />
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We have been in certain educational settings where children have been rewarded with candy and the like for memorizing facts, Scripture and for simply sitting still. It has never sat well with me and I can honestly say that we do not use these methods in our own homeschool and family life.<br />
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Perhaps because I have become so closely knitted to Charlotte Mason's methods of education that I knew better. Perhaps because I grew up in similar environments and it has left me sour towards such behaviors. Or maybe simply because my motherly instinct have told me otherwise.<br />
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Nevertheless, the article is worth the read, especially for those with small children. It seems to be that it is with these littlest of littles that we smother the most praise. <br />
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<br />HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-43885139386233296602014-06-07T20:27:00.002-04:002014-06-07T20:30:51.963-04:00fairy housesMy favorite month, June, is upon us. My love for June has very little to do with that fact that it is my birthday month, and <i>everything </i>to do with what's happening out-of-doors. A quite reliable warmth begins to take over, the sunshine seems to beam just a bit stronger, the sounds of birds and children alike seem to echo in a new way and everywhere I look, flowers, trees and gardens are in <i>bloom</i>.<br />
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Since my two little ones, Luca who has just turned four and Cecelia who is six months old, are participants in the <a href="http://www.waldorfinthehome.org/2005/02/early_bedtime.html"><i>seven o'clock bedtime</i></a>, there is a little time to exhale between dinner and bedtime. Lately, we have been enjoying that sweet morsel of time outside in our backyard.<br />
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The scene goes something like this- me laying out a soft, old quilt for baby to roll and play on, Luca filling pail-after-pail of water to mix with our garden dirt to make mud and dip his feet in, peaceful birds landing (and just as quickly flying away from) our fence, and the sun casting a warm shade of golden light onto 'our spot'.<br />
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And oh, there are <i>fairy houses</i>. Each night a new one is built. It doesn't take much in the way of materials for Luca to fashion a house to his liking- <i>dried bark from the woodpile, grass clippings, a bit of clover and a golden dandelion</i> for detail. He things they are fancy. He feels proud as he builds them, steps back, and then admires his handiwork. I sit quietly and smile. No praising, just happiness at my little boy's innocence and contentedness in <i>the simple things</i>.<br />
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Years ago, my older pair started building fairy houses. I am certain there are books (how-to perhaps) on the details of these magical little dwellings. We never needed them. We simply followed the rule- one can use <i>anything </i>to build the house that is of <i>natural material</i>.<br />
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It had been so long since we've been in the fairy house building stage that I had nearly forgotten about them. I'm so pleased that Luca has brought me back to that enchanted period of motherhood again.<br />
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<br />HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-29481467679049697422014-02-05T12:47:00.001-05:002014-02-05T12:47:54.550-05:00An Educational ManifestoWe resumed our homeschooling just after the start of the new year after a l-e-n-g-t-h-y break celebrating the birth of our new baby (beautiful baby photos to follow soon!), Nativity and all of the wonderful, warmth that the holidays bring. It has been<i> very humbling</i>, to say the least, to start back with less planning, less time, less energy and less (this one is tough) patience that I had previously had before the enormous and joyful task of caring for a newborn whilst looking after the physical and academic needs of my other four children. <br />
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However, I can honestly say that I'm not facing defeat or discouragement as I continue the task of home education. I truly feel hopeful each morning as I wake up knowing that providing a Charlotte Mason education for my children is not about preparing a perfect environment, cramming lessons, completing workbook pages or equipping my children with arbitrary facts so they can take an exam or preparing lectures to 'teach' them what they must know. CM is about educating the whole child and training the habit of attention. Above all, it is about helping them learn to choose what is right, true and just in this world and help them discover who they are in Christ.<br />
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I'm pleased to say that I have continued with my <a href="http://homegrownlife.blogspot.com/2012/04/mother-culture.html">'Mother Culture'</a> over the last two months since our new baby arrived and have found bits of time to read and study Charlotte Mason's principles and many other wonderful, enriching things that I wish to share with my children (more to posts to follow on this topic!). <br />
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In reading one of my new, beloved books based on Charlotte Mason's
Principles- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/When-Children-Love-Learn-Application/dp/1581342594">When Children Love to Learn</a>- I was reminded to read (or re-read) Charlotte Mason's <i>An Educational Manifesto</i> found in <i>School Education</i> on page 214.<br />
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Miss Mason believed that "<i>studies serve for delight, for ornament and for ability</i>" and that every child has a right to a broad, widely varied curriculum including living books and real things to nourish the soul on. She called these living books "mind stuff" or "mind food". Just as one pays careful attention to nourishing their child's body with proper food and rest, we should be equally aroused to the much quieter, but as important, needs of their minds and souls to be provided with excellent nourishment.<br />
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I will reprint An Educational Manifesto here and also provide a <a href="http://www.amblesideonline.org/CM/vol3complete.html#214">link </a>to CM's School Education so more can be read if desired.<br />
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<h3>
An Educational Manifesto</h3>
<em>"Studies serve for Delight, for Ornament, and for Ability."</em><br />
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Every child has a right of entry to several fields of knowledge.<br />
Every normal child has an appetite for such knowledge.<br />
This appetite or desire for knowledge is a sufficient stimulus for all
school work, if the knowledge be fitly given.<br />
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There are four means of destroying the desire for knowledge:––<br />
(a) Too many oral lessons, which offer knowledge in a diluted form, and
do not leave the child free to deal with it.<br />
(b) Lectures, for which the teacher collects, arranges, and illustrates
matter from various sources; these often offer knowledge in too
condensed and ready prepared a form.<br />
(c) Text-books compressed and recompressed from the big book of the big
man.<br />
(d) The use of emulation and ambition as incentives to learning in
place of the adequate desire for, and delight in, knowledge.<br />
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Children can be most fitly educated on <em>Things</em> and <em>Books</em>.
Things, <em>e.g.</em>––<br />
i. Natural obstacles for physical contention, climbing, swimming,
walking, etc.<br />
ii. Material to work in––wood, leather, clay, etc.<br />
iii. Natural objects <em>in situ</em>––birds, plants, streams, stones,
etc,<br />
iv. Objects of art.<br />
v. Scientific apparatus, etc.<br />
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The value of this education by <em>Things</em> is receiving wide
recognition, but intellectual education to be derived from <em>Books</em>
is still for the most part to seek.<br />
Every scholar of six years old and upwards should study with
'delight' <em>his own, living,</em> books on every subject in a pretty
wide curriculum. children between six and eight must for the most part
have their books read to them.<br />
This plan has been tried with happy results for the last twelve
years in many home schoolrooms, and some other schools.<br />
By means of the free use of books the mechanical difficulties of
education––reading, spelling, composition, etc.––disappear, and studies
prove themselves to be 'for delight, for ornament, and for ability.'<br />
There is reason to believe that these principles are workable in all
schools, Elementary and Secondary; that they tend in the working to
simplification, economy, and discipline.HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-26104729301718753362013-08-30T15:23:00.003-04:002013-08-30T15:25:17.209-04:00summer chairsMy 'secret' project is complete. It's only taken me a full year to complete. The better part of that year was spent thinking about what I wanted to do with these vintage patio chairs and planning how I was going to get the job done. The actual work itself only took days to complete. I guess you could say I had trouble getting to the real project. No regrets though. I am exquisitely satisfied with my pair of chairs.<br />
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My Nana gave me these chairs last spring. I have always been quite infatuated with and drawn to <i>anything vintage</i>. Beautiful and useful items in life seem to be my thing, and these chairs certainly fit that description.<br />
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I knew all along the color I wanted for these chairs. And I knew I wanted the arms to be painted white, in contrast to the vibrant robin's egg blue of the seat. In the end, the project beyond surpassed my expectations. These chairs scream summer! They beg to be sat in, whether in the shade or sun, preferably with a nice iced tea in hand! They are perfect in my book!<br />
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<span id="goog_1573086719"></span><span id="goog_1573086720"></span><br />HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-37714758119432490722013-08-29T15:28:00.001-04:002013-08-29T15:28:07.067-04:00leftoversI was reminded this morning as I sleepily started my pot of oatmeal how simply delicious these leftover oatmeal muffins are. I was prompted to add that extra 1/2 cup of rolled oats to my pot, an effortless first step towards preparing a mid-morning snack for my children, as I remembered this recipe.<br />
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I cannot take credit for <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2012/03/in-my-kitchen.html">these</a>. The recipe was posted on <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/">SouleMama</a> last spring and I am just getting to copying it to my recipe card today.<br />
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I baked one dozen this morning while the breakfast dishes were being cleared, and had a little batter to spare to make a few of these 'baby muffins'!<br />
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<br />HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-15911997789444402402013-08-21T10:57:00.003-04:002013-08-21T11:03:22.456-04:00so much kaleOur little garden beds have been overflowing with kale for months now. It is pretty much no credit to myself. I have done nothing special or secret, but have simply planted my tiny little heirloom seeds in soil and watched them GROW!<br />
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I have preserved a bunch of kale by blanching, chopping and freezing it. This has been so simple and I know I'll thank myself this fall and winter when I'm dreaming about dinner plans and craving our favorite sausage, kale and potato soup (yes, with lots of cream and spices too!).<br />
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But today I took a different approach to putting by our kale... <i>kale chips.</i><br />
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I used <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2010/03/baked-kale-chips/">this recipe</a>, but there are dozens out there, and it all came together so very easily.<br />
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Kale, coconut oil, sea salt and a hot oven. Pretty basic and I even got to use my hands to mix it all together (a true mark of a tasty meal!).<br />
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From the garden.<br />
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To the mixing bowl.<br />
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Drizzled with coconut oil. Sprinkled with sea salt.<br />
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<br />
To the baking sheet (I filled three large baking sheets this morning... for now!).<br />
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To the bowl.<br />
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<br />
That simple.<br />
<br />HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-26372020700723659032013-08-04T19:15:00.002-04:002013-08-04T19:15:51.455-04:00need for more 'Mother Culture'?Believe it or not, I've not really had a vacation from home schooling
this summer. I have spent time each day diligently and deliberately
planning the upcoming school year for my three school-aged children. It
is something that brings me delight and putting together a
well-intentioned plan inspired by the educational philosophies of
Charlotte Mason is something that I view as a privilege.<br />
<br />
And while planing my children's education and choosing how I will nourish their minds and souls, I have not forgotten (<i>the most important part of homeschooling and mothering</i>) to nourish myself as well. <br />
<br />
Part of the Charlotte Mason method is something she referred to as<i> Mother Culture</i>,
which is simply a habit which the mother-teacher puts into practice to
ensure that her own mind and soul are being well nourished and kept to
the best of their abilities.<br />
<br />
Now this is not what the
'modern woman' might perceive it to be. It is not simply indulging in
time spent away from one's children and spouse to splurge on something
that may add a moment of pleasure's to one's day nor is Mother Culture
simply a 'night out' to temporarily strip away the responsibilities that
being a wife and mother bring with it. No.<br />
<br />
It is
instead quite the opposite. It is an embracing of one's current reality,
that of being a wife and mother and teacher, and relishing in the sheer
delight that one is participating in the highest calling on earth. And
yes, it truly is the highest calling!<br />
<br />
And just how can
one mother who is pressed for time, scant on physical energy and often
sapped of mental powers by the end of the day carve out time to feed her
mind and soul? Well, books of course! Anyone who knows Miss Mason's
work knows how highly she regarded good books (living books, real books,
quality literature). She referred to them as food for the mind and even
extraviganly compared offering a wide variety of living books to one's
child as 'spreading the feast' before them.<br />
<br />
Here are Charlotte's own words on Mother Culture: <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow;">"There
is no sadder sight in life than a mother, who has so used herself up in
her children's childhood, that she has nothing to give them in their
youth. When babyhood is over and school begins, how often children take
to proving that their mother is wrong. Do you as often see a child
proving to its father that he is wrong? I think not. For the father is
growing far more often than the mother. He is gaining experience year
by year, but she is standing still. Then, when her children come to
that most difficult time between childhood and full development she is
nonplussed; and, though she may do much for her children, she cannot do
all she might, if she, as they, were growing!...</span></i></span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow;">Is
there not some need for 'mother culture'? But how is the state of
things to be altered? So many mothers say, 'I simply have no time for
myself!' 'I never read a book!' Or else, 'I don't think it is right to
think of myself!' They not only starve their minds, but they do it
deliberately, and with a sense of self-sacrifice which seems to supply
ample justification.</span></i></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow;"><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow;">Mother must have time to herself. And we
must not say 'I cannot.' Can any of us say till we have tried, not for
one week, but for one whole year, day after day, that we 'cannot' get
one half-hour out of the twenty-four for 'Mother Culture?'--one
half-hour in which we can read, think, or 'remember.'</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow;"><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow;"><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow;">The
habit of reading is so easily lost; not so much, perhaps, the power of
enjoying books as the actual power of reading at all. It is incredible
how, after not being able to use the eyes for a time, the habit of
reading fast has to be painfully regained...</span></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow;"><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow;"><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow;"><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow;">The
wisest
woman I ever knew--the best wife, the best mother, the best
mistress, the best friend--told me once, when I asked her how, with her
weak health and many calls upon her time, she managed to read so much,
'I always keep three books going--a stiff book, a moderately easy book,
and a novel, and I always take up the one I feel fit for!' That is the
secret; always have something 'going' to grow by. If we mothers were
all 'growing' there would be less going astray among our boys, less
separation in mind from our girls.</span></span>..</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow;"><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow;"><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow;"> A brisk walk will
help. But, if we would do our best for our children, grow we must; and
on our power of growth surely depends, not only our future happiness,
but our future usefulness.</span>
</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow;"><br />
</span></i></span></div>
<i><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Is
there, then, not need for more 'Mother Culture'?" </span> </span><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Helvetica10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow; font-size: xx-small;">Volume
III, no. 2 The Parents' Review</span></span></i></blockquote>
HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-91146163900053506462013-08-01T14:53:00.000-04:002013-08-01T14:54:13.413-04:00hello august<i>August</i>. Typically sweltering and steamy. The last bit of summer enjoyed. Beach days. Lots of cold desserts.<br />
<br />
At least at this point, August has come in quite mildly and unseasonably cool. Last night, after sitting at the ball field for a few hours, my skin felt cool to the touch and I was wishing I had tucked a sweater into my bag.<br />
<br />
<i>Today. </i>Baking banana bread for dear friends who just brought a new baby home. Listening to the sounds of four (my three boys, plus a friend) contentedly playing Legos in the cellar. Sneaking out to the garage to work on a (secret) project in small bursts when I find a few minutes to step away. Hearing the laundry spin, spin, spin- the constant whirring of laundry is familiar background noise in this home.<br />
<br />
Also thinking about sacred days. A <a href="http://orthodoxwiki.org/Name_day">name day</a> for <a href="http://www.antiochian.org/node/17920">Elias </a>tomorrow. A twelfth birthday for Sophia next week. Planning and plotting small secrets and sweets.<br />
<br />
Our garden has been generous with its radishes, lettuce, kale and basil and somewhat stingy (as history has shown in our garden) with its carrots and peppers. Looking at the <i>gorgeous tomatoes</i> emerging and growing brings me joy though. <i>Heirloom pinks, red and purples.</i> I can hardly wait.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I've been looking at these photos for days, planning to post them. They can simply be summed up by saying<i> garden 'squirting' before bedtime</i>!!<br />
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<span id="goog_1740441695"></span><span id="goog_1740441696"></span><br />HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-91667237506982682702013-07-15T14:15:00.002-04:002013-07-15T14:22:28.203-04:00A Morning Full of CherriesLast night as I prepared for bed, I set my mind on getting up early before the heat of the day set in to visit <i>my favorite orchard for some berry picking</i>. In a perfect world, my children and I would visit the orchard on a weekly basis and pick the fruits that would be enjoyed that week. There would be no need for the 'middle man' (the grocery store) and my kitchen would be a throwback to something out of the 1930s, complete with berry pies cooling on the windowsill, a perfect pantry whose shelves were lined with canned fruits and a cupboard full of sweet homemade jams.<br />
<br />
In my current world however, picking fresh fruit <i>every few weeks </i>is the ideal. This summer to date, we have enjoyed picking our way through a sticky sweet stawberry field in June and today we were blessed to have the opportunity to bask in the glory of the 'final pick' of cherries for the season.<br />
<br />
Since my middle boys are enjoying some time with there grandparents up north this week, I am 'traveling light' with my bookends, Sophia and Luca, over the next few days. Despite nearly a decade separating these two children, both were cheerful and eager to venture out in the heat of the early day to help their determined and energetic mother pick cherries.<br />
<br />
We were given advice from the farmer tending this particular orchard on where to find the trees with with the most abundant fruit and even invited to 'sample' the different varieties of cherries! It seemed we were the only harvesters in the orchard and we reveled in the solitude and privacy of this <i>sweet, rosy world.</i><br />
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In the end we left the fragrant orchard with over six pounds of luscious Bing and Ranier cherries. I secretly felt guilty for having left with the last of the cherries for the summer from this peaceful, fertile little hill, but it didn't stop me from enjoying hand fulls along the ride home. HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539320517201256732.post-86824042888270102602013-03-12T23:03:00.001-04:002013-03-12T23:03:11.165-04:00true inspiration
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This photo speaks to me in so many ways. <i>As a mother.</i> <i>As an educator. As a lover of simplicity and beauty. </i></div>
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The colors, the warmth, the art supplies set out in a natural setting all perfectly speak to my senses and ideals. </div>
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This photo is simply stunning and brings to mind and heart the epitome of <i>Mother Culture, warmth, art, nature study</i>, </div>
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<i>attachment, creativity and true living.</i></div>
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True inspiration. </div>
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HomeGrownLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18027352117794666171noreply@blogger.com1