break's over



School's back in session.  We had a fun week off with special guests visiting, birthday celebrations, plenty of beach and sunshine. 

I really enjoyed watching their little minds work this morning.  I could almost see the gears spinning.  After a few mental push ups and crunches, it's usually time for a salty hot chocolate and a read aloud cuddle on the couch.  So thankful.


shhhhh.....


What do you think about silence, quiet, alone?  Does it make you happy, uncomfortable, bored?
I love silence, perhaps because I'm an introvert.  Perhaps it's because I have two darling daughters who have  a lot to say.  Perhaps there's an even deeper reason than that.

We've been reading about the life of Lincoln, a book called Lincoln Grows Up by Carl Sandburg.  I didn't realize that Lincoln lived in silence a lot.  It had a lot to do with who he became.  He had the chance to linger on lofty thoughts.  It strengthened his character.  It wasn't an option.

" And so {Lincoln} grew.  Silence found him; he met silence.  In the making of him as he was, the element of silence was immense." 
 Lincoln Grows Up by Carl Sandburg



right now

Right now, we are:
  • ready to say hello to fall.
  • happy to welcome our new friend the caterpillar, Hank, who will soon become a butterfly right in our very own dining room.
  • enjoying our first year of full time homeschooling
  • taking bike rides all over town
  • taking advantage of the warm afternoons with some fun nature hikes
  • reading some amazing literature

keeping a nature journal


 We just started today, keeping a nature journal.  I am so excited about this.  We did it for a little while when Ruby was in kindergarten, but it's time to start again, all of us.

 
 The idea is so simple.  To sit and observe nature, and to capture some bit of it, record a slice of time, a feeling, a new bud, a bird family...

We will grow and learn.  We will learn how to see, how to draw, how to hear, how to be quiet.  We will also learn to love nature and all the things it contains, to make life long friends with the birds, the plants, the water.

I am enjoying thumbing through Keeping a Nature Journal by Claire Walker Leslie and Charles Roth.  I am also reading Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola, to myself (and excerpts out loud to the girls).  It is a fictional account of a homeschooling mother and how they incorporate the art of nature study into their schedule.

back to school shopping?

Last week I spent some time "back to school" shopping
for the girls (and myself).
We didn't need much,
but I thought it might be nice if we had something new for the start of school.
Kind of a celebration of a new year of learning.
As I was telling my friend on the phone what I had found at the thrift store that day she questioned whether I should really be calling it "back to school" shopping.


Doesn't everybody consider an instant collection of sweet vases, a few bowls and plates, and a handy vintage tray all back to school necessities?


I guess I also found some great jeans (all under $5),
and a few cute tops to satisfy the back to school shopping purists out there.

**the summer dress sale in my etsy shop continues for 6 more days!
use coupon code summer11**

school is cool