After a long and unplanned sabbatical, there's only one thing that can get me back in the saddle... 

 

...sharing some adorable photos with you! This is Little Running Squash on a bag of wood shavings tooting her little heart out on a recorder...which should always be played outside. Ever since moving to the farm seven years ago, I have felt just a smidge of regret that the little ones have not had a "play structure" to climb and swing on. But on more than one occasion I have been delighted to find that some farmhouse ingenuity more than compensates, and I am the blessed recipient of the joy and laughter.

And I should mention that this particular musical entertainment lasted a very long time...

  

We had a Charlotte Mason moment on the farm when we discovered (for the first time) a Monarch caterpillar that Joshua harvested from the field. Violating what every good home~educating mother knows about documenting discoveries, this is all we have on our nature study. Documentation neglect aside, we were able to observe the amazing transformation from the caterpillar... to chrysalis... to butterfly...

 

 If there is anyone else out there feeling overwhelmed by life and unable to get on top of the enormous responsibilities, take joy in the small accomplishments of your day and try to free yourself from the guilt of what remains undone.

"And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought..."

            Isaiah 58:11

Instilling a Love of Learning...

 One little sentence can throw this momma off these days...

 "...instill in them a love of learning..."

 I wonder (when I'm hearing a bit of complaining about studying) if WE love to learn...

 For years I've been preaching that "Life is learning"...

So here's a test...Look at this mess! Oops...I immediately catch myself (ok, after the initial "What are you doing???") and grab the camera. The littles were gardening and "selling herbs"...nothing a bit of sweeping won't fix.

*sigh* I don't know how we're doing, and when I read of "veteran" home schoolers who have been living this life for eight years (!), I wonder why I still feel like a new home educator after seventeen years(!). Honestly, I thought I'd have it all together by now, but if I did, I suppose I'd take whatever credit that might be had. So here's to butterflies... and snakes... and baseball... and herbs.

What do you do to encourage/instill that love of learning?

Farmhouse Quiet, and Why Do You Do It?

All is quiet as I finish up the piles of dishes and pots and pans from a long day in the farmhouse kitchen. There was a mid-morning request to make bagels, then two more requesting donut holes, and by 10 pm we were finishing up the last of not only those experiments, but sourdough cranberry bread, crescent rolls, more spiced nuts, and supper that turned into a three hour ordeal. If you're thinking I went all-out and made a gourmet meal, let me just admit that it was already made for me...all I needed to do was boil it! I was getting a little testy as the evening wore on as my five foot counter balanced a surprising number of kitchen implements, and I announced to all present that we would not be doing this again.

Now tonight, in the quiet hours before the voices begin again, I can fondly enjoy the craziness. I suppose it's a bit like childbirth...that distinct feeling of certain death and then such overwhelming joy that of course, I would do it all again.

For the JOY.

For the Learning

For the Companionship

For the Success

For the Fellowship

For the Laughter

This is why we do what we do...

...and mediate arguments, fix attitudes, kiss ouwies, wipe noses and a host of other issues that perhaps will be a different post...

"Thou will keep him in perfect peace, him whose mind is stayed on Thee, because  he trusts in Thee"                        Isaiah 26:3

Goodnight, friends. Make plans to enjoy your kiddos tomorrow.

A Quiet And Peaceable Life

A very practical thing to be thankful for here on the farm...firewood. It is absolutely FREEZING tonight, and I'm so thankful for all the hard work that went into splitting and stacking our "heat" last summer. While I don't have any kiddos that love this particular summer chore, we are all very glad now.

"...that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."    1Timothy 2:2

There is a certain desperate chaos lurking around every farmhouse corner but my heart is for the beauty of that quiet and peaceable life. I am amazed at how quickly the month of December filled up with all manner of nothingness, but I'm feeling the distinct pull of being purposeful and deliberate with our life.

One of my friends has asked me about schooling the littles, and I just don't push them with heavy preschool/kindergarten curriculum. I can tell them that policemen are our friends...that God has ordained them for our protection...and that pretty much sums up social studies, right? I'm being a bit facetious, but it really doesn't require sitting on a rug in a circle, or at a desk. It's just talking along the way...it's looking for meaningful opportunities such as copying a scripture verse. I dot the letters, my five year old traces over them. She wants to practice her letters. Both she and her four year old sister ask for schoolwork, so we spend time

"with our school"  but there's no pressure to push through a curriculum. We're working on learning our letter sounds, and after having the experience of teaching five children to read (all at different ages) I know she'll learn at the pace that God designed for her. No stress for her, no stress for me.

 Which brings me back to living that quiet and peaceable life. Every mother wonders how we went from this twirling duo, (who knew they'd be doing this same thing down the center of the barn twelve years later???)...

...to this. Life is exciting, busy and our world is getting much larger. So when I feel the rising pressure, I have to reground myself in what is really important...that knowing Jesus as Lord is the most necessary accomplishment in life, that living a quiet and peaceable life centered on Christ is essential, and that the education of our children must not only reflect this, but all too soon, the "growing season" is coming to completion. So we master academics but lose their soul...will our years have been well spent?

Today I got overly frustrated (nicely put) when one middle child had an attitude about area and perimeter. I missed my moment of the gentle art of learning. Instead I traded that for apologies and hugs a bit later, and the truth is, next year at this time we will have mastered it and moved way beyond. It just wasn't worth it.

 A rather long-winded answer to the question, but this little face gives me hope to repair my mistakes quickly and try to stay focused on the present joys of loving all my kiddos, delighting in our lifestyle of learning, and striving to live that quiet and peaceable life.

Nature Walks and Jesse Trees...Can You Help?

Treasures brought home from a recent nature walk~

These are known as Osage oranges in these parts of the country. Send me an email if you'd like some sent from our farm for your autumn table~

 I wish we had pressed this for some charming craft~

 Here is the gang after arriving back home. Note the raspberries harvested and enjoyed all over Running Squash's face. Delicious!

Is anyone doing a Jesse Tree this year? I found a lovely tree idea with a devotional book and symbols, but the company is not producing them this year. As typically happens, it is the eleventh hour and I need to find another source. So, I'm coming to you, friends. Any resources or ideas?

Painting the Alphabet B

This is last week's attempt at painting the alphabet, and naturally, we chose "bird" for B. I'm very pleased at our work, and VERY pleased that we have done it twice! For all our emerging skills, I am loving what is coming from the newly-turned four year old and the five year old. Aren't those two little birdies at the bottom charming???

One of my gardening "wishes" this year was planting pumpkins...

...but it never happened. Instead, God provided an entire field of pumpkins for us to glean...right across the road!

It's safe to say, that I have more pumpkins than I know what to do with.

Not to be overlooked is the opportunity for training good habits...the little girls spent hours washing these tiny beauties. A vintage tub, warm soapy water and a couple rags equals mommy's helpers staying very busy. 

Spending time today with a young mother of three, reminded me again of the importance of what Charlotte Mason calls "habit formation".  It is so important to use the early years to establish the formation of good habits~attitude, obedience, manners, cleanliness~ and before you and I are tempted to say we've failed, just determine to start again tomorrow. Fridays are cleaning days around here, and I'm determined to have ALL the bathrooms cleaned, AND make my bed!

Enjoy the blessings of tomorrow~

Kathy 

Little Farmers Can Paint!

Charlotte Mason has been my inspiration all my homeschooling years. That being said, I haven't mastered the atmosphere or content like I would have expected by this time in our education, though each summer I determine it will be different. The ideas and accumulation of supplies come easy, but the execution of the plan is where I fall off the wagon. Art is one of those areas...

I've wanted to do watercolor painting and nature journals FOREVER, and today...

WE DID IT!

.

Using helpful tips from Pam, I was able to "see" what I needed to buy and "see" what I needed to do. Our watercolors represent the work of artists ranging from momma all the way to the three year old (soon to be four). Kind of impressionist, isn't it? (bottom right *wink*) I purposed to make it short and sweet and not labor over our work. Overall, I consider it a success, with only one older child moderately resentful (I think it is an expression of personal disappointment) and two in tears! I believe each attempt will be more satisfying. Soft classical music or hymns playing in the background will also be enjoyable in the future.

So many times I get bogged down waiting for the perfect time, or day, or situation, or how about..".as soon as the house is picked up, then I can do that". It just so happens, that my farmhouse is never quite completely "picked up", and those farm chores are just never quite done. So whether it is painting, nature journals, or some other activity, just try to start, knowing that you can "tweak" it along the way.

Is the Media Catching On???

Did you know, a recent study discovered that children WANT their parents to pay attention to them? Serious attention, as in, interaction, engaging in meaningful conversation, focusing on the child with undivided attention? The issue at hand was the use of cell phones and texting.

Picture this:

Mom (or dad) is talking to the child (or children). The cell phone rings, or the text message beeps, and the parent instantly leaves the child(ren) to attend to the phone/text message. The child(ren) withdraw emotionally, disengage, or act out in some form of unruliness/foolishness/silliness.

Thankfully, we have finally heard this from the media, so it must be true:

Children want to be in relationship with mom and dad...being fully present in a conversation is important...how a parent treats a child demonstrates value and worth to that child...interrupting a conversation to answer your cell phone or read/respond to a text is just plain RUDE!

Children get it...

Perspective Is On the Way!

More encouragement for the home educating momma who might be feeling overwhelmed and unprepared for the  upcoming year...


APPLIED KNOWLEDGE

"He is not the best student who reads the most books, but he who meditates the most upon them; he shall not learn most of divinity who hears the greatest number of sermons, but he who meditates the most devoutly upon what he does hear; nor shall he be so profound a scholar who takes down ponderous volumes one after the other, as he who, reading little by little, precept upon precept, and line upon line, digests what he learns, and assimilates each sentiment to his heart by meditation."

-- Charles Spurgeon

Those Stinkin' Vegetables! and That Elusive History Curriculum...

Last week we spent the day canning carrots and kale with the intention of using it in soup this winter. It was hard to imagine cold weather and snow, but we KNOW it's coming, so we were a little excited about our experiment. 
Today Josh opened the cabinet, and ...wow...what a stench! Not one of those buggers stayed sealed! So this morning we fed the 21 jars to the hogs (minus the jar that got swiped off the counter and spilled all over the floor). All that by 9:00 a.m....
Other pressing matters on the farm are not really farm in nature. Now is the time to be wrapping up plans and ordering materials for our schooling/educating for the fall. Is there ANYONE else out there looking for that perfect history booklist and companion schedule/study guide? Under $500????  Have you found it???? I'd like it to be a Charlotte Mason philosophy, literature based, organized by time period (American history right now) with a daily schedule that is organized and easy to follow. Please make it rich in all the beautiful books out there, honest with the issues facing the culture of the day, and something that will inspire my children as they see the hand of God throughout HIStory.


Some that I've looked at/tried:
~Truthquest
~Notgrass
~Sonlight
~Queen Homeschooling
~Ambleside Online
~Winterpromise
~Mystery of History

I'd love to hear from you, friends! Am I missing something out there?

Waste Not...Want Not!

What would you do if...while you were unloading your meat chickens at the butcher, you noticed that one in particular was not doing so well? In the 92 degree heat, Josh and I did our best to revive the poor thing, to no avail. Our schedule for the evening was full, but it was hard to imagine wasting a perfectly good, pasture-raised chicken. So...we brought it home for yet another "Charlotte Mason" teaching moment!


Those children who were interested gathered around while Josh and I made our best attempt at skinning the big guy and removing the "viscera".That is a fun word, isn't it? Much more noble than "guts". We did pretty well, I have to say, then ran the bird inside to place in cold water. Right now, he's in the freezer and will soon be roasting in the crock pot.

So, would I quit my day job to butcher chickens? Meh...not so much. But the best part is painting the toe nails bright red and pulling on the tendons after the foot is cut off. Go ahead...try it:)

Farmhouse Backyard, Sunshine and Putting the Toy Company Out of Business...

Last week was absolutely amazing weather here on the farm! For a couple days, we actually had what I feel is the perfect day: 75 degrees, sunshine, fluffy clouds in a bright blue sky, no humidity...just gorgeous. Of course, we made the most of it, and as I headed out to hang laundry, Natalie and Anna were bounding up from the barn with their newest toy...an up-to-the-shoulder sterile glove!!! Who would have thought that for pennies, such fun could be had on a spring day?

Thanks goes to Josh and Jenna for finding something creative for the little girls to do while they cleaned the barn :)

Never to underestimate the willingness of the little ones to help, the twins equipped Natalie and Anna with a couple of scrub brushes and away they went, cleaning the hog feeders. Honestly, these moments are some of the best rewards of our life here on the farm!

A different day, a different mission...how many frogs can we catch down at the pond? I LOVE that these girls aren't afraid to handle these cute little creatures, and that they really think these froggies are capable of having a race...

And finally, who would have thought that this perfect little egg would be randomly laid in the middle of the pasture, untouched by the horse, the cow, and the little steer jumping for joy? Anna was pleased as pie that she discovered this treasure...

...and I, once again, was reminded of the passing joys and treasures that children bring every day of our lives. I'm trying so hard to imprint these memories in my mind for the future...

I hope you have sunshine tomorrow, and I hope you find something to rejoice in!

Momma Thoughts and Wishes

What could be more encouraging to a three year old, than the freedom and opportunity to BAKE? There was a day when my goal was to avoid as much as possible, those things or activities that created extra work for me. When the twins were not quite two, my sister asked me if I would EVER let them splash in a mud puddle. If you think that is silly, let me confess (again) that I actually had to make myself allow them to play in the mud. And you know the rest of the story...they had fun, I brought them in and cleaned them up, and eventually God was able to change my heart toward the PURPOSE of parenting.

But it hasn't been quick or easy. More confessions include not letting Jenna play with her Vision Forum doll because I didn't want her hair messed up! Remember, neat and tidy, perfect home, perfect children...

Early training also included not allowing the twins to cross the threshhold into the kitchen. They were so well trained, but YIKES! Can you imagine how much relationship and fellowship I missed because I was so focused on the mechanics of parenting, and not the ministry of parenting?

There is so much regret, but on a positive note, nothing is impossible with God! Though far from perfect, and still wishing I could get on top of an organized life, there is progress. I now look for opportunity to involve my children in as many activities as possible. It is not efficient or expedient, but it is training, it is fellowship, it is equipping them for the future!

We are a family that samples the work of our hands! I know self- control is a virtue and needs to be taught, but there are plenty of opportunuties for that!

In the name of training, I had my four year olds washing floors. Now the concept is great, and I still give opportunity for the three and five year old to wash windows and floors (they love it), but discipling them and coming along beside them is so much the better way...not just instructing and inspecting! How easily we forget that they are relatively new to this big place called earth. Really, they don't even notice that their boots don't match...

...and what about the giant leap of dexterity and success when a button can be buttoned??? They are so young and tender, and I wish I was better prepared emotionally to LOVE my children, not just love my children...to enjoy them being little ones, not trying to make them into minature adults...

But here is living proof, though my mistakes are many, there is laughter and love today, even if Jenna never was allowed to play with her doll...

Humbly exposing my mistakes~

Kathy

On the Farm...Snakes!...and A Little Bit of Politics For the Christian

Goodness! I've been AWOL for some time now! It's been one of those weeks that are exhausting, consumed with recovery of yet another virus (this wipes me out!), and just plain not-much-to-say.

Sunday night I spent a bit of time writing a blog "give-away", and then it had the audacity to eat my post! That was enought to irritate me, so I gave it the silent treatment for another day, just to let Mr. Blogger know...what? So in a day or so, I'll try again.

Like so many of you, we are LOVING the sunshine and the hope of warmth! We played outside today, and I actually transplanted some raspberry canes. But just so you don't think "Wow, how does she get so much done?", (okay, perhaps no one is asking that) I confess it amounted to...five? It just takes forever to get a job done, and that doesn't include the mommy-guilt when I have to say "No! I'm sorry I cannot push the bike right now!"

In my favor, we have been living Charlotte Mason over here at the farm, with the recent addition of a snake habitat. Josh and Caleb (with the help of two screaming toddlers) captured two garter snakes who were minding their own business sunning themselves in the warmth yesterday, and much time and research went into setting up housekeeping for our friends. They are quite happy in their little ecosystem, have only escaped twice :( and only get put outside during the night...just in case they actually CAN lift the lid!

To redeem myself, I'm contributing to the intellectual/political interests of my readers tonight. We have a wonderful friend, a godly young man in pursuit of a legal career, who linked to an article written by his boss (an attorney) regarding the recent healthcare bill and an option for Christians. Elliot wonders if his political musings are of interest to anyone, and I am one of those people who appreciates the ability of other intelligent people able to succinctly summarize and retell the facts and issues. So, thank you Elliot, and pass along the article if you also find it useful.

Enjoy the sunshine and flowers with your children this week~
Kathy