little hands

Been trying to be more mindful of the younger pair in my home these days. So much of what we do for our homeschooling is geared toward those who are either fully or partially engaged in formal academics.

Balancing the spectrum of ages and phases within this family of mine is the toughest challenge for me, personally, as a mother and an educator.

In addition to our trusted stand-by's of salt dough, thick Lyra colored pencils, picture books, blocks, train tracks, and simple games, I've been adding in some other simple activities to feed the minds and souls of the littlest members of our family.

Here is a basic Montessori activity involving transferring, that all of my children have simply adored right at about this age (2 1/2 years old) and even younger (and older!). It is stunning how much concentration this activity calls out in a young child and the focused delight of taking care of one's spills is just so satisfying.

Watercolor painting is always a favorite activity, and one that all the children eagerly join in on whenever possible. Our painting boards and sturdy brushes make this experience even that much more functional and beautiful.

It has been such a blessing to have solid blocks of time this weeks when all four of the children have sat and painted together in between lessons.

Making bird feeders was the highlight of our weekend as we put to use the empty rolls of paper products that we had saved and covered them with peanut butter and bird seed. The boys were so delighted to put on their boots and coats, trudge out into the cold, damp night air, and help me hang our feeders on the tree branches!

It has often been said, that if the mother is not happy, then the children are not happy. Personally, in my home, in this moment, I am finding it quite the other way around!

french paradox

One of the most intriguing topics regarding food and families for sure- the 'French Paradox' has been mesmerizing me for years now with it's hardcore, no-nonsense, slow food movement ways. Lately, all of the information out there having to do with how the French feed their children has me simply swooning over new ideas and alternative philosophies regarding childhood nutrition.

Do you love this poster as much as I do!?

Do you buy into the idea that it is alright (even beneficial!) for children to come to mealtime hungry!?

What about the ban on short-order cooking in one's home? I simply won't do it.

Sidenote: I read Brining up Bebe last spring and simply fell in love with the ideas in the book having to do with family mealtimes. As a result, we rarely snack in between meals now and my ideals regarding slow, peaceful, beautiful family meal times have been strengthened. Meal time is a high point in our day and I feel so strongly about making it as nourishing and lovely as possible!

my confession

I recently discovered a book that I now considered to be added to my list of invaluable resources, not only for homeschooling families, but for parents in general.

We have been a Charlotte Mason homeschooling family for over six years now and during that time I have made it my mission to read as much as possible about Miss Mason's philosophies regarding education, children and parenting. Many of her original writings are difficult to find and due to the Victorian prose in which they were written, even more difficult to assimilate at times (depending on the time of day during which I am reading them for me personally!).

Charlotte Mason believed that "Education is a discipline- that is, the discipline of good habits in which the child is trained. Education is a life, nourished upon ideas; and education is an atmosphere- that is, the child breathes the atmosphere emanating from his parents; that of the ideas which rule their own live" (Vol 2, p. 247).

In Laying Down the Rails, the author has brilliantly and gently put together bits and pieces of Miss Mason's writings regarding the importance of habit training in children. This book details more that fifty of Charlotte Mason's habits and pairs them with the corresponding excerpts from her writings. There are practical applications and questions for reflection at the end of each section as well.

After reading a few sections of this book upon our return from vacation Friday night, it seemed as if the scales were taken from my eyes and I was able to clearly and confidently see the habits that have been fostered well and sadly, not so well, in both myself and in my children. It was a defining moment for me as a mother.

It is so easy for me to lose the balance in home education, that is the balance between fostering and nurturing both the mind- through formal academics- and the spirit of the child- through character building, stories of saints, prayer and Scripture.

One of the struggles I face as a homeschooling parent is that of making an idol out of making sure that my children as up to par academically. At times it seems that the world is watching and waiting to see what my children know about history, what sort of math processes that have mastered and whether or not they are steeped in science experiences. Sadly, we have even been questioned- both the children and myself- about whether I have a teaching degree and what 'grade' my children would be in if they were to transfer out to school.

In an effort to put forth my best effort to emphasize the SCHOOL in homeschooling, I fear that at times I have taken off and set aside my hat as mother-teacher and instead dutifully donned my cap as schoolmaster in an effort to teach my children all that they should know academically.

Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of heart and soul in our home. There are times at which I see the tenderness and kindness between sibling pairs and know deep down that I have gotten it right, that my children are putting others before themselves and that love does truly conquer all.

But there are also times when I have been quick to overlook an offense that needed correcting, a chore done sloppily or a harsh word exchanges between brother and sister in a selfish effort to keep the proverbial ball (of education and lessons during our day) rolling.

Ugh. What a shame I have had to face in this realization of putting my children's minds above their hearts. For this is not the desire of my heart and I know that no matter what level math book my children are working in or how much rich literature they are being read nothing can take the place of a solid character.

So there you have it, my confession.

Honestly I am overwhelmed by all-encompassing task of watching over my children's hearts, souls, minds and bodies. How can one possibly cover all those basis!?

I know that one cannot and that  I must trust and depend daily and even momentarily on the power and strength that my Father extends to me. For it is He who has entrusted me with these precious children and I believe that He intensely desires to see me not tire of doing good with and for them.

these days

No soup today! Back to scorching summer temperatures tempered by a bit of rain this morning.

Started our day off with freshly baked banana muffins, butter, cream cheese and sliced apples. Steering away from 'snacking' between meals and instead making each meal deliberately balanced and nourishing Thinking that was the goal all along but realizing that I have fallen prey to the idea of viewing a few of our meals during the week as 'refueling station' experiences.

A morning and lunchtime spent at a dear friend's new home. Boys in the woods building. Babies at our feet. Big girls biking the neighborhood exploring new spaces. And the 'middle' children playing school and their favorite 'doggie' game (taking turns at playing the dog and the owner, yes, there are leashes involved). Perfect.

Thinking about summer reading around here and feeling like I have to keep relighting the candle to keep my children going. With so much going on outdoors, I feel it is difficult for them to pause and give their full attention to the page. But indeed there are books being enjoyed in our home!

Calico Bush by the oldest and Sign of the Beaver by the middle boys (being read aloud by Dad at bedtime). Lots of storytelling and prayers with the littlest one!

I found this book tonight and am set on ordering it now. It looks like the book I've been searching for. A little bit of art, a bit of nature study. Seems to be just right for our homeschool this coming year.

a full house

Please feel free to link over to the amazing online magazine Rhythm of the Home and read my article- A Full House- in the Summer 2012 Edition about homeschooling and balancing a multi-aged household. It has been an honor to contribute to this enriching and encouraging publication!

Read A Full House

Visit Rhythm of the Home

mother culture

Mother Culture. A beautiful phrase coined by Charlotte Mason referring to the idea that a mother has the duty to form her own culture that meets her specific needs; a culture that feeds her own mind  whilst educating, caring for and nurturing her own family. It is not only a beautiful phrase and a noble idea, but it is also a blog authored by the beloved author Karen Andreola.

A few years ago, I wrote about the ways in which I had created my own Mother Culture. It certainly changes with each season and phase of my life- depending on the time of year, my energy level, the amount of free time I have on hand and the specific interests and goals that I have on my mind.

Karen's book A Charlotte Mason Companion was instrumental in inspiring me and informing me to choose to give my children a CM education. This book was written from the point of view of a mother with a heart turned towards giving her children the very best in life. These ideas are beautiful and are not limited by finances or where a family is living geographically. So very inspiring.

As I stumbled across Moments with Mother Culture tonight I felt a swell in my throat and a tear in my eye as I read about this family's journey and how the 'children' are no longer children any longer. When Karen wrote her book, her children were small and at home and living peacefully and safely under their mother's wing. Now it seems they are grown and have families of their own... what a legacy!

summertime

The first day of summer is here. It seems as if we have been thinking and talking about this day for months now. And it is finally here!

Now it is time for berry picking, swimming, beach trips, suntans, freshly squeezed lemonade, lazy mornings, countless bike rides, baseball, grilled dinners, watermelon, fresh vegetables, blooming flowers, and one of my most favorite things on earth (which by the way is not only enjoyed in summertime, but is now only more justified!).

I hope to be writing in this space much more this summer as now my time previously spent focusing on formal academics is now available now for things like blogging, beach-going and drinkings numerous glasses of iced coffee throughout the day whenever I feel like it just because!

First stop- a trip to Philadelphia this weekend. Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Franklin Square, the Betsy Ross House, Elfreth's Alley and Valley Forge. What a perfect start to summer!

little links

So this isn't the post I promised. The first day of school photos are coming, as are the childrens' book lists. I promise.

Tonight I wanted to post a few links to sites, posts and little things that I am loving right now. I have been doing more than my fair share of surfing the web at night and there are always so many wonderful little nuggets of gold floating in between all of the stuff on the internet.

This post from Are So Happy regarding her vision for what kindergarten will mean for their family this year. This really struck a chord with me because I have been getting several questions of late regarding homeschooling and children under the age of six. It seems that a lot of well-intentioned parents are fretting over which curriculum to choose for their four- and five-year-olds. I completely understand wrestling with this question but have really given into following my instincts on this topic. This post pretty much sums up my idea of what the early years at home should encompass and has really encouraged me in my decision to leave the kindergarten year void of academics.

These earrings. This is my dear friend's sister's etsy shop. I am in need of some new earrings. They are typically the only pieces of jewelry I wear on a daily basis and I never think to treat myself to a pair when I am out and about. These are just so beautiful and cheery and will certainly not break the bank. I'm thinking of getting two pairs... one regular pair and one dangle pair.

These pants. I am really hoping to carve out some time to sew up a bunch of these pants for our cloth-diapered baby. When your baby is wearing a cloth diaper and wool cover like ours is, it's really impractical to put any real baby clothing on the lower half of them. These days Luca is sporting his cloth diapers and these little things to keep his legs warm.

my stack

There has been plenty of time for reading these days. I went a little overboard putting books on hold at the library but don't regret taking the time to choose the titles I have been meaning to bring home for long, long time.

These are the types of books that one can just pick up and read for a while and put down without feeling compelled to finish the entire book in one sitting. On any given night I am jumping from birth stories to how to make my own sauerkraut. Very exciting stuff.

So here is my current stack...


Real Food for Mother and Baby- Nina Planck
Confessions of an Organized Homemaker- Deniece Schofield
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth- Ina May Gaskin
Wild Fermentation- Sandor Ellix Katz
How to Grow More Vegetables Thank You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land than You Can Imagine- John Jeavons

We recently purchased this book after weeks of loaning it from the library and not wanting to return it. It is filled with the authentic, original fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm and it has all three of my children completed enchanted and captivated each time we sit down to read.

We have been reading one fairy tale three days in a row and usually on the last day of reading the children like to act out the tale- costumes and all (I still have flour imprinted on my front door screen from when each child took turns playing the wolf from The Wolf and the Seven Kids who tried to hide his black paw by going to the baker and the miller for dough and flour to make it appear pure white like their mother's!).

Completely worth the elbow grease it takes to clean up after these plays.

This book is just beautiful to look at. I like to leave it out because it adds so much richness and loveliness to our home.

** The Pantheon Edition is the one that I chose in the end based on some research and reading. It is the most authentic and the art is amazing. **

fighting nature

Today marks my fifth full day on bed rest. My midwife told me that if I start to feel tortured then I'm doing it right.

If that's the case, then I've perfected the act of bed rest, torturous feelings and all.

So you may wonder what I'm doing with all of the newly founded downtime?

What I essentially doing is fighting nature. I have been having strong nesting instincts for nearly a week now and it feels nearly torturous to try and take it easy while my insides are screaming go scrub something!

There has been a bit of washing and tidying and some light scrubbing. I will not lie. But there has been lots of virtual nesting as well. I have been been adding to my current nest to make room for a new baby while simultaneously maintaining the nest that I am already responsible for. I have to say that I am thankful for the internet and for this laptop for that matter.

In addition to browsing many beautiful things on the web, I've also purchases a few. I had started to lose count and then today realized that I will be receiving five packages at the start of this week... and that's not counting this amazing book that just got delivered last Wednesday.

The urge to sew has suddenly struck hard and so I have become a bit covetous of some of the amazing projects that are out there just waiting to be mail ordered and sewn.

Here are some of the books and patterns that I have been drooling over of late and some images to go along with them.


And although it feels oh-so right to start sewing up a batch of dresses made of French color cloth for mama and girls I know that it would be cheating.

So I must resist the urge to begin any major sewing projects and sit still and wait patiently for my next big project to begin... birth.

modelling beeswax

A bit more about the modeling beeswax that we used yesterday.

It was our first experience with modeling beeswax and it did not disappoint. I used the Stockmar Modelling Beeswax from The Wooden Wagon and was thrilled with the experience.

Beeswax has several advantages over playdough or clay including it's wonderful sweet smell, the mess-free area after use, the non-staining factor, the ability to use it over and over again and the fact that it requires nothing more than a child's warmth and patience to create what they'd like.

To use it, take a small bit of the beeswax and hold it between your palms to warm it. This can take several minutes and can be a good time to tell a story or just sit and enjoy the feeling of the beeswax in your hands.

It was so interesting to see how each child responded to the beeswax and the emotions and creativity it brought out in each.

Elias was most impressed by the sweet beeswax aroma (as seen in the below photo). He spent a bit of time simply pinching and stretching it and came to me to warm his pieces for him.

Nicolas had the most patience with warming his beeswax and set out from the get-go with the idea of creating a dinosaur in mind. He knew just what colors he wanted to use for which parts and really spent some time daydreaming as he warmed his beeswax (as seen in the below photo!).

Sophia did not have a bit of patience for the beeswax at first. She tried to warm it in her hands and quickly grew frustrated when it did not bend and give as she hoped it would. After a bit of encouragement and a little demonstration she gave it another try and set out to make Pippi Longstocking. I think she got as far as the peach-colored face and the bright orange pippi braids.

Our first experience certainly won't be our last. I just love that this simple toy brought so much joy to our morning!

links to lovely things

Just updated my list of rotating inspiration on the sidebar of my blog. So much to inspire creativity and thoughtful living out there. I really could use some quiet time to read, plan and sew a bit.

I really want to make those felt barrettes.

Thinking a lot about Waldorf these days- nature tables, rhythm of home life and creating traditions.

Loving Small magazine's blog- smaller... "a journal of inspiration of ideas".

bedtime stories

Every so often we I fall in love with a set of picture books. It seems that our picture book reading has become more and more infrequent as we spend the majority of our time now reading chapter books and living books about nature, science and history.

It's sad for me when I think about it. Whenever I do realize that days have gone by without reading a good picture book, I always try and do something about it.

So recently we checked several books out from the library by Mary Pope Osborne that are illustrated by Giselle Potter- one of our favorite illustrators- that we have all just fallen in love with.

Sleeping Bobby, Kate and the Beanstalk and The Brave Little Seamstress have become part of our bedtime routine for the last week or so and are gently lulling little and big hearts alike into a dreamy state of bliss.

The artwork alone is simply gorgeous and the twist on these traditional fairy tales has been really enjoyable.

Sleeping Bobby is a story of true love and rescuing, except in this case it is the princess doing the noble deed and bringing the sleeping prince back to life. In the end, the princess and prince fall in love and immediately get married.

Needless to say, this is beyond disgusting and repulsive to my six-year old son who has vowed that he will never ever want to kiss a girl or marry one for that matter!

It makes me chuckle and reminds me of the simplicity and innocence of childhood.

You've just got to love bedtime stories.

finds

I'll admit that sometimes when I should be folding laundry or finishing up this book that I've been trying to finish reading for months, I venture out into the world wide web and temporarily take up residence there.

In doing so, I often discover crafts, clothing, toys, accessories and ideas that I would certainly not discover in my own back yard (so to speak). This makes me very happy and inspired. And I'm finding that a happy and inspired mother is a better mother and that her children really like spending the day with her when she is this way (a whole other post).

Here are a few items that I've stumbled upon and am really loving at the moment. I'm either thinking about buying them, making them or merely dreaming about how fun they would be to have in our day-to-day life.

Bakfiets- Dutch Cargo Bike
How great would this be to tote the kids around town in and save gas at the same time? Alright, alright. I know that realistically this would not work in my town, but would be perfect if we were living in, say, the Netherlands.

If these excite you as much as they do me, then go to the photos section on the Bakfiets website for an eye-full of photos featuring adorable Dutch families piling loads of kids into these things. It just strikes my funny bone and confirms my belief that kids don't need a large space to be happy!

Oh, and I would have to wear a scarf while pushing this cart because it would just make the scene that much more believable.


Wovenplay
I hyperventilate a little bit each time I browse this site because it is filled with such unique, gorgeous and creative costumes for children. My kids role play most of the day and would just love these great clothes for make-believing that the were pirates, Nile princesses, fairies, lion tamers, moths or aviators that they try and become.

You just have to go to this site and dream a little bit about how fun wearing these outfits would be. I wonder if they make them in adult sizes...

Black Apple Doll
These dolls were created by crafter Emily Martin and I just love the look of them! Sophia and I attempted to make a doll last year, and although it has now become a treasured piece of fabric losing it poly-fil, it is pretty sad looking. I'm hoping that Sophia and I will make these together someday really soon.



Ten Fingers Workshop: painted wooden dolls
Just look at this little wooden family! I don't know what I like best about these- the colors, the cuteness or the fact that I would have loved to have these as my doll house family as a child (okay, or right now).

The kids and I made some of our own recently using wooden clothespins. The final product was pretty great. They each took their time and Nicolas even glued a toothpick to the side of his clothespin to make his into some sort of a warrior. Adding swords as accessories is so very Nicolas.

hollyhawk: leather cuffs
Yes. Leather cuffs. They are not as scary as they sound, I promise. These bracelets are really beautiful and I would just love to have one on my wrist. These I cannot make. Nor will I likely purchase one. I guess this would be called virtual window shopping.

Buisjes En Beugels+++: An interview with Kellie Smits
Kellie is the designer and founder of this Dutch company featuring unique children's clothing. Although this is not an item per se, this interview was extrememly fascinating and interesting for me to read. How does one become a clothing designer? What is your inspiration? How do you manage your home and career? All of these questions are answered with detail.

Yet another artist who is also journeying through motherhood.

Bloesom Kids
Just a site full of great features, crafts and lines for children. Truly inspiring. You could spent hours here just linking from one great idea to the next (uh, not that I would know about squandering my time like that...).

I hope you've enjoyed some of my finds!

my blog banner

So, here's the story that goes with my new blog banner. I was browsing through the thousands of lovely and lively photos that flickr has to offer in search of a photo that would just strike me as the one for my banner. And I found this photo.

I went out on a limb and asked the artist (ever-so meekly and politely) if I could use her photo for my measly little blog and she said YES. I was thrilled to say the least.

It turns out that this woman is a mixed media artist and full-time mother of two living in the UK. I just love stumbling upon pretty things like this and love them even more when I know that they were created by a mother with young children. It's a fascination of mine I guess you could say.
If you're interested in seeing more that this artist has to offer then visit her etsy shop- lusummers and browse her pretty little things.

So now I have a lovely blog banner and yet another craft blog that I enjoy visiting. This is fine by me.

burning wood

Summer is in full swing and we are enjoying it immensely so far. Berry picking and birthday parties. Planting flowers and making jam. Tree swings and flip flops. These are the sorts of things that have been filling our days this season.

I'm no fool and I know that summer must come to an end at some point. First autumn and then winter, before the warmth of next year's spring and summer return. And in the midst of enjoying all of the warmth and easiness that summer has to offer, I can't help but begin to prepare for the coming of colder, harsher weather.

Call it nesting, foresight of just necessity, but we have begun thinking about how we will keep ourselves warm (and feed ourselves well) during the chilly, barren days of winter.

Specifically speaking of heating our home, we are pretty much facing two options: going completely broke from buying heating oil or investing in a wood-burning stove.

Well, the verdict is in... and I see lots of stacked wood sitting in my living room corner in our near future. The wood-burning stove has officially been put on our priority "to buy" list.

Being the lover of beautiful and useful things that I am, I was slightly fearful of what sort of massive clunky piece of metal (I'm picturing the stove that I grew up being warmed by) would be the focal point of my living room. I figured that finding a wood-burning stove that fit into both of these categories would be nearly impossible.

Until I saw this gorgeous stove from Dutch designer Dick van Hoff...


I can totally see this gorgeous wood-burning stove keeping us warm this winter (and many winters to come).

favorite blogs

So, one of my favorite craft bloggers at Tree Fall Design has posed a few questions about what makes a good blog and has asked for some input. I thought that I would let you all know why I LOVE some blogs more than others (I have several blogs that I read daily and just can't get enough of).

What makes you enjoy a particular blog (not just this one, any one that you read)?
I am mainly fascinated and interested in two things: sewing and family life. So, as it turns out, all of my favorite blogs are authored by mothers. Reading about how one remains creative and productive while children are running under foot (and sometimes, under shirts nursing) is very enjoyable to me.

I love the easy style of writing and the vulnerability that Amy Karol at Angry Chicken writes with. She is quirky and humble, yet an amazingly talented artist. She makes me laugh and admire her work at the same time.

Food blogs are also high on my list.

What type of post is your favourite?
My favorite type of post is one in which the blogger reveals a completed project- be it a newly sewn quilt, a piece of clothing that was made or a yummy meal that was prepared. I also love being able to catch small glimpses about the daily life- the mundane- of other families. Whether it's a meal, an outing, a craft, a favorite book or a child's favorite play nook, it's all fascinating to me.

I also adore reading about how the children were involved in the process.

How important are the photographs?
For me, the photos often make the blog. I like detailed shots or glimpses into the life of the person writing. It's nice when the photos don't seemed staged or planned, but really and truly real-to-life. That's what I love most about my favorite blog, Soule Mama.

Does the design of the blog attract you or even stop you from reading it?
I tend to like crafty-looking blogs with lots of color, fabric, food, or really neat graphics in the header. Vintage-looking blogs just take the cake when it comes to the most attractive style of blogs to me. Blogs loaded with ads or buttons or banners often turn me off. I love links that are often rotated... they keep it interested.

Do you like blogs to be colloquial/regional or fairly generic?
Fairly generic is just fine with me. It doesn't really much matter to me where that mother is writing from, just so long as I can learn something new or be inspired in the tiniest way.

An equal amount of craft and family, or does too much of talking about the kids put you off?
As much as I love seeing the crafting and artistic side of blogs, I equally enjoying reading about the bloggers family life- children included.

What else? What are the best words of advice you can give a blogger?
Write about things you L O V E. Whether it be homeschooling, raising chickens, sewing or cooking gourmet meals. Don't worry about trying to write about topics that you think others will enjoy reading. Someone, somewhere will just adore your blog if you do.

on the lighter side

All of this mild, sunny weather has me thinking spring. Duh, right?

For me, thoughts about gardens and picnics and bird feeders and doormats and lighter clothing (these are my spring thoughts) race through my mind faster than my feet and wallet can keep up.

But I take what I can get. So I was extra thrilled tonight when I had an hour and a half to sneak out (by myself) to my most favorite store ever and browse the beautiful housewares, clothing and jewelry that this store has to offer. In my dreams I live in Anthropologie. Yes, actually in the store.

I managed to leave the store (after prying my fists open and letting go of so many other pretty things) with some steals (in my opinion, but not exactly my father's idea of a steal).

First, I found an adorable pair of sun glasses. My old pair broke over the winter and I really needed a new pair. When I tried them on for Sophia and Nicolas, they told me that I looked like a rock star. I will take this as a compliment.

Next, I found the most gorgeous jacket (which I am calling a "sweater" so that I can wear it indoors as well). It is citrus-colored and fits like a glove. With a description like this, who can resist...

Flight Patterns Jacket

-a ruched yoke soars above the bell-shaped bodice of this cozy Sparrow coat, with a fold-over collar and tiny bows at the sleeves.

Not I.

So here I am feeling slightly more ready to take on spring. Now for the important things...