Running about Like a Headless Chicken Never Felt So Good!

Don't let the serenity of the picture fool you.  I'm doing my best circus act, spinning more plates than I care to count, but hey!  I'm spinning them, not picking up jagged pieces from the floor. ;)

So to recap and share:

In July, we enjoyed a fantastic camping trip with our church family in the Sierra Mountains.  It convinced us five that we love to camp and hope to do much more of it next year!  Feeling utterly disconnected from the world, while connecting with your brothers and sisters in ways unable during a Sunday morning, is an experience unmatched thus far!  We loved it.  We rolled in it.  We came home covered in it.  And then we bathed.

Also in July, I started coaching an U-10 girls soccer team, when my kids' league nearly begged for more parent involvement, and now I'm totally hooked!  Not only are we as a family (because of my singleness, I have to bring all of them with me...) engaging our community, but I'm convinced we're making disciples.  A while back I read somewhere, I wish I could now remember where, that anyone in a position of authority over our children indeed disciples them, shaping them by his or her respective world-view.  Truly, it's one of the foundational reasons I home-school my fab four and now the reason I am completely and totally hooked on coaching!  

In the few weeks we've been involved, God has used us in the lives of more than a dozen children, I'm certain!  We are each intentionally investing in each and every life on the field, as friends and teachers and modelers of our faith.  A few sweet dears have already expressed their desire to be on my team next season and that's all God, because really, people, I'm just not that holy-cool.

So, I am uber-thankful to God for pushing us outside our home-school bubble--so easily justified with academic busyness, faithfulness to Bible study and church service, not to mention fellowship with its members, our friends--and into our community, where the hearts and, often, homes are broken and in desperate need of the Savior's merciful love--don't we of all peeps know that well??  And if we win---BONUS!

Another blessing I received last month was an offer to write for pay!  Although it's not a continual flow, it provided then and more recently for many needs that I otherwise would never have been able to meet.  How fab is God?!

Thereafter, I was asked to use my writing talents to serve the church as projects present themselves.  Often feeling on the outside because of my inability to partner financially in a greater way with the work that we do both inside and outside our membership, I am grateful to give how I can.  Who knew I already had this abundance?!  He did indeed.

So, yes, I've been super busy.  But it's a good busy, a fruitful busy, a busyness that's blessing not only my fab four, but many more and lastly me.  Oh! and I'm reading everything you write, too.  I may not always have the time to comment or respond to comments left here, but please know that you're ministering to me each and every day in real and tangible ways.  High five!!  You are dearly loved and appreciated.

Until the next time...GOOOOAAAALLLLLL!

A Little Visit from a Feathered Friend

Yesterday, we had an unexpected visit from a feathered friend. This picture is obviously not the best, but Olivia really wanted me to blog about it, so here we are.

The hummingbird bird was remarkably tame, if one considers tame equivalent to our ability to catch and handle him rather easily. I mean, he (or she) did fly away at the very first opportunity presented and did not answer to any of the names with which each child attempted to christen him, but our ability to climb up to the place where he perched and gently but firmly replace him into our hands is good enough for the label tame in our household. Um, by this standard, he's more tame than my own Fiona!

The children were fortunate enough to see the hummingbird's tongue in action and really hoped to keep him much longer than the more than handful of minutes I allowed, but alas! We set him free and refilled the hummingbird feeder to the brim in hopes that Peter, Charles, or Mary would stay nearby.

Now, I'm off to dust the blades of that ceiling fan---yucky-yuck! Figures, it would take a teeny bird to point out the fact that I'm slipping in the housekeeping department! Somebody dock my pay. Wait. I take that back.

A Library Book Sale, or How I Got Away with Grand Larceny

Our library recently had a book sale. It has one every three months, and we never miss 'em, youknowwhatimean? Well, if you're on a similar home education path, as outlined by Charlotte Mason, I know you do. And, if you've been on this path for more than a year, you know exactly how the living-book eagle-eye works, too, the eye that can spot a fantastic book from across the aisle and beneath a pile of twaddle entirely based on the type of the print on the binding and the smell of the ink wafting beneath your nostrils; you've an out-of-print card file readily accessible in your frontal lobe, with an alphabetical listing of the finest authors for children, dating before 1950 of course; and you cherish and gather to your bosom those dear-hearts coldly stamped "DISCARDED" like red-headed orphans from the potato famine.

Oh, is that just ME??

Nope.

I'm not alone . . . not anymore.

This fantastic find was caressed and held close by my darling son, who caused a few appreciative although unbelieving eyes to bug when he claimed it at the cashier's table as his very own "First Book Free for Kids!" I'm certain the cashier thought it was I trying to get the high priced, $2 book for free. I'm certain because she asked him, "Is that book for you? Did you pick that out yourself?" And offended I could not be when he looked at her with an enthusiasm that could only swell the heart of a true, blue (although I'd rather be red) bibliophile and replied, "Yes! Last year I found a book of the Brothers Grimm's fairy tales and read them all. Now I'll have a collection."

The cashier's gaze sought mine and I thought I'd give her a li'l wink and a smile. Yep, I'm definitely not alone. Oh, and there was ice cream for dessert that night, youknowwhatimean?

Nature Study, Naturally

"The child who spends an hour in watching the ways of some new 'grub' he has come upon will be a man of mark yet...some day he will come across the name of the creature, and will recognise the description of an old friend. (Charlotte Mason, Home Education, Volume I, p. 58)"

David made a discovery this week:

"Momma, look what I found out!!  This insect is a Ladybug larvae.  We've played with these before, but I never knew what they were until now!!"

A son's delight and old books filled with fab illustrations are just a couple of the many Things I Love.

And don't miss any of the amazing giveaways, from my month-long birthday party.  THIS WEEK: the most fantabulous baubles from my Etsy fave, Stella Jade Designs!!

A Wordy Wordless Wednesday: On the Golden Gate

The kids and I happily found ourselves to be the airport shuttle ((to and fro)) for my in-laws, who visited from North Carolina over Easter break.  Although we've now lived very near to San Francisco for over six months, I confess we've yet to venture into the city for any reason whatsoever.  So, imagine the kids' and my surprise when Google Maps ordered us to go over the Golden Gate Bridge for the very first time in our respective lives just to reach the silly airport!!  The very best thing about it was Olivia had just studied San Francisco and its marvel of a bridge called Golden Gate with Richard Halliburton's Complete Book of Marvels.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of driving ((or walking, or running, or crying)) over bridges, and I became quite excited when I realized we were all about to enjoy the experience together:  

"Woot!!  Woot!!" hooted Momma.

"What is wrong with you, Momma?" inquired David.

"I gotta hoot or I'm gonna cry, Babe," explained Momma.

"I hope this is a short bridge," declared David.

"Oh, David, this bridge is not even a mile long; and it's a suspension bridge, which means that it literally hangs over the water from simple cables that are about three feet thick--that's as tall (or short) as Ian!!  [Enter girly giggling here.]  Can you believe we're almost three hundred feet above the waters below--right now?!" Olivia bellowed.

"I don't feel very good," David murmured.

"Woot!!  Woot!!"

Thankfully, by the fourth time over this true beauty and marvel of a bridge, I no longer found the need to hoot, David felt much less queazy, and we all learned a lot more about the history of the bridge from Olivia.  Gotta love home school and in-laws---they stretch you in ways you never knew you could.

Do you have any ridic fears that just won't go away no matter how much sense you may try to talk?  How do you cope when forcibly faced with them?  At what age do homeschooling kids decidedly know more than their parents?

You'd be an April's Fool to miss my Birthday Giveaway #3, beautiful baubles from Stella Jade Designs!

Nature Study, Naturally

My son, David, was a maniac with the butterfly net yesterday and this was his fab reward.  

In recent months, we have had several moths in our home that went on to glory from the extensive observation and pet-making processes that my creation-loving kids put them through, but this was a special case, and the kids seemed to instinctively know it.

This lovely butterfly, an American Painted Lady, common to California, was treated as a lady should be: with respectful tenderness.  And, although that much loved and used butterfly net was part and parcel of a whole Entomology kit I purchased last year, the kids cannot yet bring themselves to pin and label one single mini-thing.  Somehow, although I shelled out a pretty penny for said kit, I respect that.

And, here's a li'l video for you ((but don't bug about the dirt---we live on the side of a hill, remember?!))

Doing His Thang, New Skool Style

Yesterday, this was the view from my kitchen table, sometime after lunch, which the kids enjoyed on our back deck under the warmth of the spring sun, at the small children's table we've owned and loved for more than ten years now.

Olivia asked if she might read outside while I worked a math lesson with Fiona at the table.  After a few moments, I looked out to see that Ian, my sweet baby boy who is so anxious to grow up and "do school" already, had dragged his own bin of picture books outside, as well as his beloved Mighty Mind pattern blocks activity, not to mention a rather healthy snack.  He melts my heart, he does.

Definitely a Kodak ((or Panasonic)) moment destined for sharing.

Did I mention he makes my heart swoon?  That boy.

A Wordy Wordless Wednesday: That Time of Year Again!

My sister-in-law just loves it when my kids clean out her gardens!!

Believe it or not, this is year #4 of collecting and observing snails.  Totally love that the kids do all the care and c l e a n i n g, 'cause I'm just not that into snail tar-poo.  But, I gotta admit, those snail eggs and babies are just way too cute.

Ahh...and here's a bit o' snail trivia:

What makes snails so terribly prolific?

A Bit o' Fun with Church Family

It was Ian's very first Egg Hunt!!

I loved his look of concentration as he listened to instructions.

Have a very Blessed Easter, y'all!

A Very Wordy Wordless Wednesday!!

Long ago, we went on a journey to Japan through books, videos, music, and, finally, food. It was the best few months of our newly living and organic homeschool, which is perhaps why we still look upon it with deep fondness. Here is one of my fave memories captured then and now recently rediscovered whilst cleaning and organizing my garage:

Oh, the memories!! Makes me want to go on this journey with them again and again!!  They even spoke simple Japanese phrases to the owner with such grace that he came out to our table and told us his whole life story, before counting to ten with everyone.  It was a pure delight to be honored in this way, and we never forgot the experience.

This picture is one of my all-time faves because it was not staged a single bit.  I only asked, "What do you think of the food?"  And then I closed the shutter on their lovely and honest reactions.

Have you ever studied a country and its people, culture, language, history, music, and food with your wee folk?  How do you keep your kids connected to what they are learning in books?  Doesn't that Japanese food look completely de-lish?

Wordless Wednesday: Love 'em and Leave 'em

From the information we could find on common northern Californian lizards, it looks most like either a Coronado or Skilton's  Skink, although both are mainly found in southern California--it wouldn't be the first time we found a little lost creature, far from home, though!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Love Is...

...having the sheriff in town.

Love Is...

...a milk mustache.

Love Is...

...your favorite homemade ninja.

(his idea and workmanship)

My baby's turning four in one week,  

so there will be a series of this sappy stuff, 

as I try to sort out my aching heart.

My 32-Square Kitchen: A Baking Day

On Friday I mentioned that my kitchen is small--uber small--with thirty-two square feet of elbow room to be exact.  Needless to say, when I'm at work in my kitchen, whether breakfast, lunch, dinner or today, my infamous baking day, I work alone, all a-l-o-n-e.  

No, not really.  I use my baking day as a way to spend thirty minutes with each of my four children, but not. all. at. the. same. time.  No, 32-square and I can only handle one, so we work in shifts.

The easy-peasy part.

Let me lay it all on the table now: not only do I struggle with control issues, but I have serious personal space issues, too.  Marriage and family are hard enough, with all the hugging and kissing and tying of shoes, that all I ask is you "Stay out my kitchen unless it's your turn."  Um'kay?

Anyway, now that you know how to pray for me, c'mon in and I'll share my oven's bounty with you.  Here's what's on the week's menu:

Doesn't hurt to have little lovelies helping, does it?

Well, doesn't hurt much.

1.  Easy-Peasy Granola Bars, 2-dozen for breakfasts and snacks

3-cups oats

1  14-oz. can of sweetened condensed milk

2-Tablespoons melted butter

1-cup raw shredded coconut

1-cup raw sliced almonds

1/2-cup raw oat bran

1/2-cup flax seed

1-cup chocolate chips, mini or reg.

~Mix all ingredients together and press into a greased 9x13-inch pan.  Bake at 350* for 25 minutes, or until golden.

Granola Bars: Check!

Next!  Love my li'l lovelies I do.

2.  Banana Nut Wheat Bran Muffins, 2-dozen for breakfasts and snacks

1/2-cup butter, melted

1-cup brown sugar

5-6 bananas, mashed

1/2-cup milk

2-teaspoons vanilla extract

4 eggs

3-cups whole wheat flour

1-cup raw wheat bran

1/2-cup flax seed

2-teaspoons baking powder

2-teaspoons baking soda

1-teaspoon cinnamon

1/2-teaspoon salt

1-cup toasted & chopped walnuts

~Mix together sugar, bananas, milk, vanilla and eggs.  Stir in flour, bran, flax, baking powder and soda, and salt.  Add melted butter and blend until moistened.  Stir in walnuts.  Pour batter into greased muffin cups, and bake at 375* for 25-minutes.  Cool five minutes and then remove.

Baking Tip: Always toast your nuts before adding to batter.  

Makes for a richer and more flavorful anything.

The house is smelling quite divine about now.

Dunzo!  Next!

3.  Whole Wheat & Germ Chocolate Chip Cookies & Dough, one dozen baked today & the rest for a week of Mother-Love fresh from the oven

1-cup unsalted butter, room temp

1-cup brown sugar

1-cup sugar

2 eggs

1-Tablespoon vanilla

2 1/2- cups rolled oats

2-cups whole wheat flour

1/2-cup wheat germ

1-teaspoon baking powder

1/2-teaspoon baking soda

1/2-teaspoon salt

1-cup chocolate chips

1-cup toasted & chopped pecans

~Process oats in food processor until ground to a flour.  Whisk together oat flour, whole wheat flour, salt, baking powder and soda.  In another bowl, cream together butter and sugars until light & fluffy ((about three minutes)).  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Slowly incorporate dry ingredients.  Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.  Roll into tablespoon-sized balls and place on lined or ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 375* for 12-15 minutes.  Cool 2-minutes before removing from baking sheet.  Makes four dozen.

Getting toasty.

Sassafras, pretending to concentrate.

Much more believable and true to her nature!  

Sassafras begged to eat some raw cookie dough,

but her conscientious momma said, "No way, Josefina!"

Ahhhhhhh.  

Time for a break with a few of my friends

 and a short glass of cold milk.  Why do we always say tall?!

I also baked up two loaves of bread dough in the bread machine, which I placed in the freezer until we want them.  But, that's no fun to post, so get your own recipe.

So--you knew it was coming--how do you prep for the week?  Do you carve out some special time for your children and butter?  Are you ever tempted to lick the spoon even after you tell the kids no?

Oh, Charlotte! The Kids are Baking!

Whole Wheat Snickerdoodles

Yes, I said, "Whole Wheat"...don't be scared.

1/2-cup unsalted butter, softened

2/3-cup brown sugar

2/3-cup white sugar

2 eggs

2-cups Whole Wheat Flour

2-Tablespoons cornstarch

1-teaspoon baking soda

1/2-teaspoon salt

Cinnamon Sugar

1/2-cup sugar

3-Tablespoons ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350*.  Cream butter and sugars until creamy and light in color.  Add eggs and beat until batter is uniform.  Sift flour, cornstarch and baking soda; fold into buttery sweet egg mixture.  

Form tablespoon-sized balls and roll in cinnamon sugar to coat.  

Place cinnamon atter balls onto parchment-lined baking sheet and flatten slightly with glass bottom.  Bake 7-minutes, turn cookie sheet, and bake 7-minutes more.  

Remove from oven, cool slightly, and gobble up with a tall glass of cold milk.  Yum!

Makes 2 dozen, which doesn't last long around here!!  Enjoy!

Hint: These are easy to freeze after rolling in the cinnamon sugar, so you could make them during your baking/prep day, if you have one, and bake as desired ((like, every day)).  Or, bake a dozen and refrigerate half the cookie dough for another day of fresh-from-the-oven goodness this week!