Progress in the midst of some chaos

What a week. 
Truly, Progress in the midst of some chaos.....

Grandma Mary Ellen's old Stove

Before I left for UBAM National Convention we decided I needed to move my "office" work space back into the house.  Last year I moved out to a storage shed, and while it has been working fine, it was not good for working in the evenings or weekends and leaving the kiddo in the house.  Since I returned we have been purging and redoing a few things so I can make the transition back into the house, but this time have a real space, not the kitchen table or a small corner in the bedroom where I can keep Hubs up all night. 

I have turned a 8x8 corner of the family room into "command central" as Hubs calls it.  Pictures of that will be forth coming as it is fully completed.  BUT the purging, while LONG over due, has taken a LONG time to accomplish, and this is just ONE ROOM.  We have donated, hauled off, and otherwise disposed of more than two pick up loads of stuff, I der-say much of it junk.  While doing all of this we have redone the floor in the family and dinning room, which was very much needed.  The living room will happen AFTER I recover from this purge.  it wasn't until the dinning room and family got new flooring that it was plainly seen and decided that the living room was in desperate need as well.  Maybe late fall I will take a weekend and we will do the living room.

Callie Cat and Duke have been totally wandering around like we have flipped our lids.

Before

After

The "Workman" Cabinet did get a cleaning and is now on a weekly schedule for Lemon Oil to nourish the wood a little more.  Here it is resting in a new, and I think, better location.

 Through all this upheaval and sorting, and yes there have been some tense moments, I know God is beside us and guiding us.  It's been a tough and tight spring and early summer, but I see God's hand in so much.  He see's our every need, and I know He provides for us.  God is so good. 

I will catch up more later, and I do love getting comments from my gentle friends, but for now it's back to work, but I am leaving you with this:

Monday Refelections

One reason so many Christians today are worn out and faint is because their lives are complicated.  -- Joyce Meyer

And I begin this long time coming blog post telling you that my life is complicated. Yes. It is.  It's been more than 1 year since my last post, and frankly longer than that since I posted with any frequency.  For those that followed me at one time and have stuck with me, THANK YOU.  Thank you for sticking with me while life has been complicated and I adjust to new normals.  Not Homeschooling doesn't mean I have nothing to blog about because I am still tending my garden.

Later this week I will update in bits and pieces but today I will muse on how to embrace the seemingly disorganization that life has been for the last 3-4 years.  It really hasn't been any more disorganized than before.  Adding Gram to the mix changed things a bit, which I am sure to touch on how having your mother in your home can add its onset of complications, but that is for another day.  I pray your gentle friendship will allow me those times and these times.  :-)  

On the home front, we are currently moving things around and Gram has agreed to divest our home of many small items that stack up and create a big mess, of course, a family of four with the gene for hanging onto things long past their use is difficult.  I made the hard choice last night to toss all of Bear's old birthday cards.  Really, what was I keeping them for?  You would be very proud of my resolve.

I have been using Sunday's to mentally plan the big anchor tasks for the week and menu ideas.  This week we are having:

• Lasagna 
• Hobo Meal (Potatoes and Beans with Franks)--it sounded good.
• Goulash
• Breakfast
• Pizza--  Because Friday should always be Pizza right?

That is a lot of meal planning for me.  In the past, I have tried to create 4-6 weeks of rotating meals, and it has proven a headache and unsustainable.   I know my limitations! Instead of viewing this as a failure I decided to adapt and do what does work with my life, my abilities, and my family.  Welcome Sunday week planning.  I am not micro-planning, but planning my anchor tasks, and then each night I am planning the large things the next day and keeping my lists short.  This is working for me and if you are finding planing and keeping to task is proving to be hard this might help you.  I will try to post a VLOG post talking about this soon!  ;-)

For now, Happy Tending!
Kim

Reboot your life, yes you can!

Sometimes the day is gone from bad to worse and all you want to do is lay down on the floor in a fetal position. Have you been there?  I know I have.  But once you get to the place it doesn't mean you give up, it means it's time to do a systems check and REBOOT.

Here are ten ways to reboot the day or week (heck, month maybe?  I know I have been there). 

1. Go outside.  Just grab a coat and head out the door.  Of course the littles need to come too.  Go to the park, yes even if its raining (that's what rain coats and hats are for). Go to the beach, this time of year it will be your own private escape. If you have the forethought, pack a thermos of hot cocoa to enjoy and ward off a little bit of a chill.  Even half an hour can do wonders. 
2. Call it an early night.  Make an early night of it.  The day has been going down hill all day and the steam engine is screaming at lightening speed, just figure you will eat cereal and toast for dinner.  Get each child into a warm bath.  Pull out a feel good family movie and grab blankets and pile everyone on the couch.  Watch a movie and cuddle.  The cuddles make the world feel just a little bit more normal again.
3. Make meatloaf.  I have no idea why, but meatloaf makes everyone happier.  Meatloaf like they made it back before everyone decided it was boring.  Spices and garlic and oh yeah a yummy sauce on top.... 
4. Add water and paper...  If you are home alone or your kids are older, take a bath, pick out a book and figure its quiet time for an hour or so. 
5. Bake cookies.  A spice cookie, oatmeal cookie... even a chocolate chip cookie can slow everyone down.  just one batch....  if you don't feel like baking more than a dozen or so, the dough will keep a few days in the fridge, or freeze them for the next time you need the smell of baking cookies in the house.
6. Get Organized.  Sometimes we need to get organized to relax.  But don't take that to the extreme.  Organize one thing.  Hang a key rack, write birthdays on a calendar, something small that can make a difference.  I use to lose the basement keys ALL the time.  I hung a key hook/rack and it has helped tremendously.  It not fancy, just a piece of molding left over from the kitchen that I put a few hooks into.
7. Time Out.  Yep, mommy time out.  Hopefully you can get all the littles into a quiet time and you take a time out.  Read, pray, whatever you need to do.   
8. Put music on and dance.  Put on something fun, has a beat and sing and dance, with the kiddos.    It will leave everyone in giggles.
9. Go off grid....  Turn off the phone, computer..  all those devices which "connect" us and get back into a real connection with people.  Go for a walk in the mall, let the kids play in the play area while you have a coffee or coke and relax.  Kids don't need constant adult intervention.  Yeah we need to make sure they don't disappear or kill each other, but we don't need to have our fingers in the pie all the time either. 
10. Practice realism.  Make real goals for yourself.  Forget what you think everyone else does, make realistic goals for you and your family. 

I am in the boat with you as I continually strive to de-stress and simplify.  What do you do to de-stress you life?

Endurance and faith...

I'd be a liar if I told you that this has been a FANTASTIC year.  That it has been a year of SUCCESS and BLISS.  You would see  right through me.  I know you would.

This last twelve months has taken a toll on me.  Its taken an emotional toll and a physical toll. It has left me drained many times.  But never have I doubted God's promise to us.   While I don't believe in unicorns, I do still hunt for pixies.  Maybe this is part of what has kept me from blogging so much.  We have had so much going on, some of it so mundane and day to day that no one could possibly want to read about, and the other so exhausting that I have crawled into bed at night weeping with pain, but knowing that pain means I am alive. 

But I never claimed to only blog about unicorns and sunshine, right?

We put Bear into public school this year.  Its been a very hard last year in a half since moving from the old place.  Weeks in limbo, followed by a stint in a hotel, and then a brief respite in a apartment before being able to move into what we call our Promised Land.  I don't recall the road to the promised land being paved with flowers and ice cream cones, do you?  So why should it be any different with us.

Bear loves school by the way.  It's what we need during this season of adjusting.

Some of the things that have happened since all this started almost two years ago would have many questioning if they were doing God's will.  I wont doubt that there have been times I myself have done that, but I look around at the peaceful forest that we are trying to carve our little home out of and I see God's hand. 

 Our chickens remind me of how simple life is, how we should look to God for our salvation, not man.  This is my biggest goal for 2015, to rejoice in all things.

It could be worse.  We have health, we have a home, we have food. We have more than some.   

I have a young new friend who is just thirty-ish and the first of October she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She has two little boys.  She is upbeat and always talking about praise and I have never heard her blame God.  It kind of makes you put things in perspective, you know?

James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." 

Yes, God is alive.  He cares.  Paul in his letter to the Romans wrote, "we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance." (5:3)

And with this thought and verse in mind  I look heavenward.  I ask for perseverance and peace. 

 

Penrose Tidal Fun!

Recently a local family we met, and our little crew, went on a beach adventure to Penrose State Park. 

Before the beach adventure Bear and I discussed simple rules for behavior on the beach (totally lost once we got out of the car obviously!) as well as reading a couple fun books about tide pools, one was A shine the Light Book by Usborne (I will review it at another time).  I wish I would have brought out the loops but plan to again soon when we go back out.  It was a very fun outing for us.  Messy, but fun.

We discussed the types of things we might expect to find on a beach in a tide pool, we discussed and reviewed erosion and what that does to beaches.  We talked about what kind of creature we might see that didn't live in salt water... People, dogs, cats, deer....  we didn't mention the one amazing surprise we seen... as you will later see!

 I didn't expect to find SAND DOLLARS and not just one or two but whole beds of live and dead sand dollars!  The purplish ones are very much alive so be sure to handle them very carefully and place them back the way you found them.  No, you can't take them home with you! 

We also seen several Moon Snails.  Someone said this odd thing might come from them?

The mucky shoes, sticky wet pants, and dirty hands were well worth the fun we had!

May showers

Bring weeds in June....  Or rather, it makes the weeds bloom even more!  Our property is over run with a plant called Scottsbloom/Scottsbroom (and blackberries) and trust me, to the newbie it might look like a pretty yellow bush, but it is evil!  Yes indeed!

I was told by the dish network guy--and he assured me he knew everything about living out here in the boon-sticks!--that Scottsbloom used to be used by Scottish women who migrated to the Northwest for brooms... figures, I mean you know, it could be it got the name from, oh I don't know....  a bakery?  I suppose it may have made a great plant for that.  I even toyed with looking at how to make brooms and selling them to rich Microsoft and Amazon employees....  I might still.  I'll Google it later. *grin*

We have a garden, our baby raspberry patch, a couple blueberry plants, and a dream.

Some things I like about living in the sticks "so far from civilization"  (um, really?  I still can get my Amazon Prime and I can still make it to the city in under 45 minutes).

• The quiet solitude. 
• Listening to the birds begin their morning song. 
• The crunch of pine needles as I tramp in the yard and "nature area".
• The way the dew looks like sprinkles of pixie dust on wild flowers in the morning sunshine (I don't have my camera always with me I need to try to capture this!).
• Walking outside in PJ's at 9 pm or 8 am, its all the same! 
• Sun Tea.  Its tastes better in the country.
• The hiss of the sprinkler and the buzz of the bees.

But one thing that I don't like--and Duke concurs!--is the obnoxious SQUIRRELS!  Those buggers are an annoyance and today I witnessed them actually climb down the tree beside the house and TAUNT the dog!  I wonder what they would do if he learned to climb a tree? 

Five little things

Five things the last twelve months has taught me... 

Its good to sit down occasionally and reflect on where you were and where you have traveled on this road called life.

1.  Patience.  Oh man have I been shown I have a BIG HUGE need for patience.  Patience in waiting for things to happen.  God just telling me to be still and not try to forge ahead on my own.  Yep, patience.

2.  I don't always need, or should I even have, the last word.  The last word isn't the end all and be all.  Yeah, only a foolish person sets themselves up as authorities  on nearly everything and they just don't know they walk a fine line.  Growing up makes you see that.  Its sometimes hard to follow through, but you do discover that you don't know best for everyone. 

3.  Things need to ebb and flow.  You can't be the conductor of everything, sometimes you just have to sit back, and do, NOTHING.  Yep, sometimes you have to not worry about tomorrow and not worry about yesterday.

4.  You need to be secure in why you are doing something.  When people think we are crazy for the path we are going down, let them think it.  Who knows what their reasons are.  Sometimes people just do that. 

5.  Wait.  I have learned that we must wait and be still so God can work. 

Have you learned anything in the last year? 

Laundry Day

Since early fall I have been out of homemade soap.  I have been putting off making it.  Why?  Oh I have literally no idea.  It only takes about a half hour of my time and its literally pennies a load.

The recipe can vary from source to source.  One person told me she uses 1 bar of Felsnaptha and 6-8 cups of borax and washing soda.   My recipe is a little different and this time when I made it I varied it a bit more, I am bad when it comes to following a recipe.  Additionally, I use a regular food shredder rather than a fine grater because of a hand injury which would prevent fine grating.  After grating I chop as well.

Kim's Laundry Suds Soap Recipe

Ingredients:
1 bar of Fels-Naptha or Zote soap
1 cup of Boarx
1 cup of Washing Soda
1 cup of Baking Soda
1 cup Laundry Crystals --Optional

Directions:
Place borax, washing soda, and baking soda in a large bucket or bowl.  Grate the bar of soap (with a food grater--fine if you can) and add it to the powder mix in the bucket.  Add the optional laundry crystals if you like.  Mix well with a large wooden spoon.

For use in laundry, add 1 Tbsp for a regular load of laundry (2-3 Tbsp if dirty or large) --if desired and using cool water dissolve the laundry soap first in a pint of warm water.  

Hubs only complaint with this laundry soap has been lack of scent.  The crystals take care of that problem!

You will buy a box of each of the powders and it will make several batches.  The Fels-Naptha runs around a dollar a bar.  I figure each batch cost about $3 and will wash about 70-75 loads. 
I say thats pretty good.

Real food journey

What a great week we are having.  Seriously.

I haven't bought pop in over a week.  Yeah kind of craving that, but living through it.  Now I am cutting down on coffee stand purchases!  Oh boy....

I cooked a turkey over new years and boiled the bones for broth.  From that broth I made two additional full meals and several quick grab meals that can be put in the freezer.

I decided to make completely 100% homemade soup again, and this time really let the spices and herbs simmer.  And I did....  I think the broth for the soup simmered for a good six hours before I  began to add vegetables and I let that cook an additional two hours in the crock pot before I added the noodles.  I still need to work on how many noodles I add.  I tend to like a more brothie soup with less noodles, but many people love a full thick and chunky soup with a hearty amount of noodles.  For just me I would have added a much smaller amount.  Trial and error, as we explore real food.

With the soup I served homemade biscuits which I slathered in a garlic butter I made.  OH YUM!  So delicious.  We are garlic lovers though.

Kim's Egg Noodles

My noodles are really simple and do not require a pre-dry period.  I use a pasta roller (manual) and the recipe is unbleached white or wheat flour (I used unbleached white this day).  I generally get two healthy cups of flour, two eggs, water, and salt and pepper.  I placed the flour on my board and make a well for the eggs, water, seasoning mixture.  I then get a small bowl and put the eggs in it, water (this can vary depending on how much flour--so adjust as needed) with the salt and pepper and whip the liquid.  I then place it in the "well" in the mound of flour and mix together. 

I make sure my rollers on the machine are lightly floured and commence the stretching of the dough and once that is complete (according to instructions and desired thickness) I run the strength dough through the noodle cutter and immediately place the noodles into the bubbling broth.  Separate the noodles as you are putting them in the broth.  Enjoy.

The little worm

Rainy weather doesn't keep this family down.  Nope.  Today the weather dawned cloudy and rainy, typical winter in the "Northwet."  Instead of letting the rain keep us inside we donned our winter coats and this afternoon went to the park with Bear's bicycle.  I had plans to let her ride until she fell over from sheer exhaustion.

Did I already lose the mother of the year award for even thinking to wear her out?  *grin* Oh well.

Rain doesn't keep us in, we still venture out.  Today, because we ventured out, I witnessed a very sweet and gentle side to my daughter that would have remained hidden otherwise on this day.  She is a really gentle and compassionate child always but in her rough and tumble zeal for exploration and learning it can be lost (actually its just overlooked by us frazzled grownups).

I actually love outside play dates when the air is misty and there is a fog lying about.  Yes its a bit chilly but I use the opportunity to stretch my own legs and marvel at the creation given to us by God.

As Bear was riding her bicycle around and around she suddenly came to an abrupt stop.  I could see her cradling something in her hand and it was with some dread that I walked over and continued to ply her with questions.  What could she possibly be holding that was causing her to be near tears?

A worm.  A skinny worm.

She said she thought she ran over the worm and killed it. 

Right there in the park, no shovels to our name, we scrapped a hole and buried a worm (I can't say if it was dead or not).  I told her she should place the worm in the grass and if it were dead it would become food for the robins that we had seen in the park.  That was met with tears.  Big huge tears.  Thus I smiled a little smile and helped her dig the little trench/hole.  I thought that would be that after we covered the little thing.  No, she began to search for the proper stone.  She did this all with the utmost of care and reverence.

I was surprised, not by the concern that she showed but by the depth of her care.  She earned her daughter of the year award right there. Its times like today that I think to myself, "maybe I am doing something right after all."

Yes, I am glad, despite the rain, that we went out today.  It was worth the effort for her excitement and smiles.  It was worth it to witness her compassion. 

You say you want a resolution?

On the horizon 2014 is dawning and the light of 2013 is waning quickly.  The dust hasn't yet settled but I am still revisiting some things we had hoped to accomplish in 2013.

We did indeed move, and through that move God taught us some valuable lessons.  God stood beside us and gave us strength while we traveled the road 2013 led us on.  We have been forced to work on simplifying our life.  We still have things to work on, but this last year has given us many reasons to know that the things we think we need really aren't what we need.  What's important are the people and the relationships we have. 

Bear did so much this fall toward spreading joy to others.  She really was very excited about it and when the day is done, that is where true wealth lies.  She--and all other children-- is the future.  If we instill a loving heart in our children we have indeed gained wealth; a wealth far richer than gold.

I have been giving 2014 some thought.  I wondered about the one word thing and just couldn't do it because what I really want to work on, for me personally, is to be the woman God wants me to be and to have a heart seeking after Him.   To that end I am working on a few things:

Getting my health in order.
Its not about being thin, its about being healthier and ok in my skin.    I posted about this earlier with the changes our family will be making in our eating.  I think, after years of denial, I am experiencing a few food intolerances that are creeping up on me as I get older.  I need to get a handle on these before they rob me of health completely.  If my health is better than I can focus more on what I need to do to get my heart more centered on God.

Working on the beatitudes.
The beatitudes can be found in Christ's sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:3-10.

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
    For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
    For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
    For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
    For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
    For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
If I can work on this daily, I will be doing good. 

Kind of in this vein, but not entirely is my desire to begin reading a proverbs a day on every month that has 30 days.  I will start in January, even though it has 31 days because February is a short month.  I use to read my Bible daily, and had so much more peace when I did and I wish to get back to that. 

The year ahead is a clean slate.  Its up to you what you make of it.  You can forge ahead and blaze a trail all your own, or stay right where you are.  The choice is yours. 

 

 

Christmas Past...

I remember the first Christmas Hubs and I were married.  We got married in October so we were still very much in the getting use to each other stage in December.  I had been saving money so that I could buy my love special Christmas tokens.   I put the weight of showing love in areas it shouldn't be, and I felt that spending money and buying things was the key to showing my love. 

I had the excitement of a six year old as I wondered what my new husband would buy me.  In my naiveté I somehow thought all newly married brides could count how much their husbands loved them by the gift(s) he gave.  Of course you know how much fallacy is in that kind of thinking.  I now know different and to look back all those years ago makes me shudder at my behavior. 

Christmas approached closer and closer.  Still, I didn't see any presents appear for me under our tree.  My heart got heavy....  Did he not love me?  If he loved me he would certainly be putting a lot of thought and time into picking out a gift for me, right?  Didn't all new brides get earrings, bracelets, necklaces????  Well, didn't they?  So, I waited.  I cried to my mom...  Her wisdom told me to not worry and to trust my husband. 

On Christmas morning I awoke, like a small child, and wondered if "Santa" had brought me anything.  Surely during the night Hubs had hidden a gift.  He smilingly seen my search and remarked, "maybe you should check the stockings." I did.  It was nearly empty, but when tipped upside down two watches fell out into my lap.  Now, you might be thinking I should have been ecstatic...  I wasn't.  I was in tears.  My husband's face fell.  Right before my eyes his face crumbled with he sound of my sobs. 

The watches he gave me were his mothers.  He quietly explained to me that he had saved them to give to me.  He tried to hold me as he told me how he had new batteries put in at the jewelry store, had them cleaned, and lovingly thought of me wearing them.  He thought I would be pleased.  I wasn't.  I felt cheated.  I was stupid and juvenile.

I ruined our first Christmas together by putting the weight of our love for each other on things.  I was already feeling like I was living in the shadow of my MIL.  Hubs giving me her jewelry was the straw that broke the camels back.  But it was also the straw that brought about both of us making some changes and understanding even more about each other.

Looking back, I wonder how I could have been so idiotic and immature.  You can't gage the love someone has for you by what they will buy or give you. 

The ultimate gift has already been given to each of us, all we have to do is open it and have belief, faith, repentance, and then take on the covering of Christ through baptism.  All other gifts are just things that have no real meaning.  Most of the gifts we will receive under the tree this year will be forgotten, lost, or broken before next Christmas, but the gift God gave is everlasting throughout all the ages. 

Yes, all those years ago I didn't understand the gift God had given me.  I didn't understand that things amount to very little in this life.  What really matters has no price tag.  I understand it now.  The older I get the more I realize that the things I really want and need can't be bought.  

Merry Christmas!

Oh Christmas Tree

Our first Christmas tree.... it resulted in our first fight as a couple.  Yep.... 

Our old house was also my mother-in-laws home before she passed on.  Hubs lived there with his mom before he bought it several years after her death.  When we got married her things where still in the house.  Her clothes were still in her dresser, her collections still gathering dust on the shelves; but this is only told so you can have some background on why I felt like an outsider in our home in those early days. 

We used his mothers tree that first year (and a couple years after) and all her ornaments.  While a tasteful woman, her style was not a style I felt comfortable with.  Now don't get me wrong,  I love this woman whom I never met, but we are different.  While she passed away more than 20 years ago, I still feel like I know her; I know her through her son, my husband.  She raised him and loved him and made him to be the kind, caring, gentle man that he is.  I will always love her, even if I don't care for her style. 

But back to that first year...

We had a couple friends over who helped me set up the tree.  When Hubs got home from work I put on Christmas music and set about decorating the tree and house they way I thought it should be decorated; simple....  It became apparent that Hubs was not his usual easy going self, and I began to pester as to why.  He was quiet and reserved.  I persisted in trying to make this a joyous event and after about half of his mothers ornaments were on the tree when I pronounced it done!  I believed it to be beautiful.  In hubs mind it was incomplete.  The result was a fight and I cried because I felt as if I were a guest in our home.  It wasn't until I made some major changes (not all met with joy at first) before I felt like my mark was being made.  But first I had to explain this...

It was two in the morning before our talking, my crying, and more talking resulted in a discussion and growth and understanding.  

That's what love is about. 

It was a very hard first year of married life in many ways, the Christmas tree was one of several things we learned from that first year.   It was hard, but well worth the effort.

Marriage takes work, and understanding each other.  Its not always easy, but its worth the work.  This year our Christmas tree has beloved ornaments from Hubs childhood, a few from mine, and a lot we have bought since that first year. Now we share stories as we hang up the ornaments one by one. We share the stories with Bear.  Our tree now reflects us as a family. Our house is less decorated than Hubs had as a child, but the Christmas spirit is alive and well.   Being with loved ones and spending time together reflecting upon our Savior's birth is what matters. 

Christmas 2013







Weaving with Natural Fibers

 

A couple weeks ago our homeschool group's Nature Club had the wonderful opportunity to do a workshop with Wolf College, a conservation teaching educational experience.  It really is.  Chris and Kim are wonderful with kids of all ages as well as adults.  In looking at their class offerings I have several on my wish list for the upcoming year.  Perhaps even a camp will be in Bear's future.

But back to what we were able to learn during our workshop ... 

The workshop our group did was in harvesting natural fibrous materials.  We learned how to weave a rope and make a mat for sitting on (although time was short so we learned how to make something smaller.  To make one large enough to sit on you would just use more materials and make it bigger.  Same premise, but on a larger scale).  The applications for these products, besides the obvious benefit of learning a lost art and connecting with nature and the people that historically used the local plants for weaving, are great.  The imagination is really your only limit. 

The children were able to learn about harvesting the wild plants, how the eco systems connect and the importance conservation and using only what is needed.  Harvesting, when done wisely, is beneficial for the ecosystem.    I was very impressed with how well Chris and Kim taught the workshop; they taught an age appropriate level that captured the attention of all of us. 

We used raffia (like what you can purchase at the craft store) to learn how to braid a simple rope that could be used for fishing or weaving.  We learned, historically, how the natives in our area obtained raffia for the most part, as well as what they used it with.  Raffia is not a native plant to our area.  It was imported. 

We also learned about materials used for making baskets and mats.  Chris had a couple of the children sit on the cement and then on a mat made from cat tail leaves.  The warmth provided by the cattail leaves was amazing.  I could easily see where this was a wonderful use for sitting and sleeping. He briefly explained why this was so for the children.  In one class we had history, art, science, and social studies!

 Many of the techniques taught and skills explored reminded me of a graduate level anthropology class I took before Bear was born.  In this class we learned about the ancient tools from one of the native tribes in Minnesota, and the class ended with three projects that you created using things found in nature or made with the tools that would have been available during the period of time we studied (I can't remember the exact time frame right now).  The only modern equipment we were allowed to use was a hunting knife and a bow string.    I have wanted to incorporate these lessons into Bear's education and I think I have found the platform for this.  Bear is very much into exploration and animals and their habitats, so this fits the bill nicely. 


The needed supplies for this type of activity is relatively inexpensive.  A hunting knife or good pair of pocket pruners, bag or backpack, sturdy shoes, appropriate clothing for the weather, and a guide book of plants for your area is a must as well as knowing when the best time to harvest the fibers might be. Sturdy gloves would be a bonus as well.   I would look for local sources; people that know the local plants very well.  Most people love sharing knowledge like this and jump at the chance to share with others.

Always remember to only take what you will use and to walk carefully.  Incorporating nature into the learning experience is beneficial on many levels.

Miss. Mason really understood the importance of connecting with God's creation and the formation of the whole child.  I imagine that classes like this and teaching young children in the natural world would warm her heart.  Everyday, think about this:  How can I incorporate some aspect of nature into our learning experience?  The more I slow down the more I find I have "TIME" to incorporate more of Charlotte Mason's teachings into our life as a whole; and the more I have time to reflect and grow, spiritually.  Being quiet and taking on the pace of nature helps that.  Try it!

What types of nature learning do you do with your children?  You can do this even if you don't homeschool.  Afterschool and weekends can be created to incorporate some nature learning, just get out there and explore!  Keeping a nature journal of these experiences can help both parent and child see just how important the world is to us, and how God created it just right.

Acountability Update

It has been almost a year since we bought Accountable Kids.  I am not an affiliate site, they have given me nothing for writing this update.  I am just giving my honest opinion on how it has went in the year we have had the chart.  We have been without our chart since late June until last week, so I add that for your understanding.

It was a rocky start.  Some things that we are still working on are they daily reminders.  All I have to do is ask, "have you done your Accountable Kids?" and she will generally run and complete what tasks she is able to do.  When we packed it up I was shocked with how she cried over not having it.  She enjoys the flipping of cards, as I think it gives her a sense of accomplishment. 

We did end up adapting it a bit from what others do.  Frankly, while I ordered the book, it was not something I found as beneficial as just watching the videos.  Hubs and I were able to view the videos together in an evening.  I was able to get Bear excited about starting it as well.  I think this prep went a long way in our home to Bear loving it so much.  Its her chart.  I, personally, would not say you needed to buy the book.  I do have it though if I ever need it in the future. 

We only give stars for a special occasion outing when a job or deed has been OUTSTANDING.  Only one card has been filled thus far.  We have allowed Bear to save her bonus bucks for special things or she can save them up to buy from "Mom and Pop's Store"  These are generally items that we pick up cheap.  They have a cost to them and she can spend her bonus bucks on one or two things or buy something small and save the rest, or, better yet, save them all. 

If all her chores are done she earns one bonus buck a day.  For each section of the day she can earn tickets (this is how we have broken it down).  We have three sections to her routine; morning, day, evening.  Each of these sections can earn her a ticket.  Extra chores from the "Above and Beyond" stack can be done for Bonus Bucks.   

The Tickets can be spent on privileges, or saved for bonus bucks.  In our home Bear has yet to save her tickets.  They get used for movies or TV programs that aren't what I normally let her see.   For example, I normally let her sit down mid morning and watch Wild Krats, this is not something I would make her give up a ticket for.  If she wanted to watch Jake and the Never Land Pirates she would need to give up a ticket.  If she wanted to watch a movie that we didn't have planned for the day, she would give up all her tickets.  We are trying to show her that there is a COST and these things aren't free.  She can make choices, but they need to be wise choices.    

I know this isn't how everyone uses the program, but at 5 and 6 years old this is what we did to suit our current needs.  We haven't incorporated all the cards yet into our family program, that may come in time.  I also don't change out the chores daily.  I wanted something easy for me, and good for Bear as a visual reminder of what she needs to do every day and so what we have is working. 

On an appointed day we tally up bonus bucks.  We have recently decided that it will be done at a weekly family meeting (more on that to come). We think we are ready to move into something more formal, and a more formal accounting system for her. 

Yes, I recommend Accountable Kids.  The program, in conjunction with "Zoning," has been a blessing for our family.  Does it work always, 100% of the time, no; but it sure has made for less tension. 

Now if they only made a program like that for dogs and husbands......*grin*