When Help Is On The Way

I kinda layed an egg with my chicken project.  I forgot that my life isn't arranged as it used to be.  And what's more -- it hasn't been for some time.  Not quite sure how I did this.  These funny human brains.

Our chickens need a bigger coop.  And, hopefully, one that encourages them to roost inside it at night rather than the adjacent tree.  Wouldn't it be great to build my own?!  (Imagine me checking out books from the library, scribbling out plans with a friend, searching feverishly online for a just-right coop...)  I bought some plans, had wood delivered to my friend's house, marked the wood, and she did a fantastic job cutting it all.  And covering it when it rained.  Multiple times.  She delivered the wood to my house.  (The woman deserves a prize.)  She offered to help me build it.  But -- I suspected by this time -- I was in over my head.  I had already asked too much.

In olden times, I could have pulled off the steep learning curve for this project.  But, I made a tactical error: I forgot that I don't currently have those hours available to spearhead such projects.

But, not all was lost.  Not only did my dad offer to build it while he visited, he brought his tools! While my mom and I browsed the fabric store, he had my plan book at the hardward store.  When we got home the saw had been fired up and the sawhorses were set.  For three days he reworked the plans, and this is what we ended up with.  I just love it.

You might notice that there are a couple finishing details for me. (A roof.  The wire enclosure.  Locks.) -- but those were left because I can handle those.

Mama's Got a Brand New Bag (Well, Sort Of)

As I made breakfast this morning, my mind wandered over the coming weeks and months -- what we need to do, what that means.  I realized I was using a family present that I had gifted us a few Christmases ago, and my thoughts settled on the mooncake molds under this year's Christmas tree.  Among other things, the new year brings another round of the geography co-op class I've been teaching.  We started in Europe and will be sliding over into Asia this week.  Those mooncake molds will be just the thing!

It got me thinking about how we create opportunities -- opportunities for learning, opportunities for experiences.  Homeschooling and parenting and learning and being who we are all become one and the same -- one big jumble.  Was I thinking about geography when I bought the mooncake molds?  No, not really.  I was remembering the day that Linus and I looked at a cake cookbook together at Costco and how he tried to get it for me for Mother's Day, but it wasn't there any more.  And how we looked it up online and found that the authors did some tutorials for cakes and cupcakes.  And when we had watched all of those I remembered that I wanted to make mooncakes for book club, so we looked up tutorials for making mooncakes.  And how he sat in my lap, so tiny and so engaged.  And so now we have mooncake molds.  The book club in question has long passed.  But I've made room for new opportunities.  I've created space for creating.

made for me by a friend-
another good reason to
hang on to CREATE

Last year I used the word "CREATE" as a way to focus.  I've learned how vital it is for me to have opportunities to be creative.  Sometimes book club fulfills that need -- I've loved learning to cook and bake new things.  Sometimes I need to learn a whole new set of skills (starting a blog was that at one time).  Sometimes I just need a project that doesn't require a lot of me, but lets me plink away at it, eventually resulting in a little something new and created-with-my-own-two-hands.

Other things needed creating, too.  Space for a growing second child.  Always content to come along for the ride, it was time to arrange things differently for him.  And I'd seen how much he himself enjoyed creating -- but he needed support in doing it his way, on projects he's drawn to.

Worked out great.  Through about June.  So, for 2016, I'm bringing it back!  And this year I'm one year wiser...

Crazy about these picnic placemats
with their little utensil pocket!

Linus made the teeny jammies & I made the less teeny jammies

Well it ain't much...

but we call it home.  Or, "tent," or "tipi," or... something. 

 It's that time of year, when schedules relax and days open out ahead of us.  

So, we grabbed the bamboo poles we picked up at the garden center two summers ago (still "tied" together from our last go), spread a blanket under and wrapped a temporary cloth around our frame (a safety pin works fine!).  Perfect reading, snacking, drawing, chatting spot!  We like to set up nearest the plum tree (yum) and the gardenias (mmmm).

And did I say "temporary"?  Three summers may or may not be "temporary."  No matter.  We're not going for perfect, we're going for doing it. 

Project: Anything That Goes

What is Linus interested in?
Action.  Things that move.  Preferably, things he can make move.

That Santa -- he's a smart guy.  He brought a Thames & Kosmos Air + Water vehicle set for Christmas.  Boy, do they make some great sets!  (I imagine we'll have a few of these when it's all said and done.)

We've built a few of the models so far.  This was the "tank," and it got great reviews!

I love this activity as an illustration of how much (academic) learning is happening using a project-based learning approach.  And to be clear: this isn't the real point.  But I think it's worth noting.  He's just "playing."  He loves to make things go.

"I want to build this, Mama!"

"Where does this piece go?"

"Do we have two big circles?"

"If we snap all of these together they make a chain that connects the gears."

"I can do it!"

"We need a ruler!"

"Fifty pumps to make it go!"

"When I pump it, the water goes from this tank to this bottle."

"We need signs!"

Project-Based Homeschooling

I did something really cool this summer.
It was, in fact,  so cool that I still haven't figured out how to write about it in one measly post.
So -- I give up.  (And I'm okay with that.  I believe there's strength in knowing when to say when!)
I'll just start with this.

I took the Project-Based Homeschooling Master Class.
It was fantastic.
Fan-tastic.
I can't recommend it highly enough.
The class was superb -- the material, the format, the facilitation and the support.
Really -- you should do it.
It's easy to say to ourselves, "Not right now. I'm just too busy."
But this -- this -- gave me focus where I had been wanting it.
Support where I *needed* it.
And, the support is ongoing.
It's sort of a no-brainer, actually.

It isn't just for homeschooling families.
It isn't even just for "kids."

Check out the blog.  Participate in the forum.  Buy the book.  Jump in -- you'll be so happy you did!

sewing, women in history

a clay charm business

nurturing a home that can nurture us

See the World with New Eyes

I'm not a good photographer.  Getting better is on my list of things to do "when my kids are bigger," but, while they're small, I don't want to get so distracted.  And the dishes and laundry are not going to do themselves.  Darnit.

In the meantime, I'm getting a kick out of a Photo A Day project that Suzie sent my way!  It's just the boost I need, in just the right size package.

Today's challenge was "Under."  It was so much fun.

At the library, I started here --

Okay.
Getting warmed up.
Getting the feel for noticing "under."
But -- I think I can do better.

 Oh, I like this...

Under! (and under, and under)

Oops.  I did it again.
Book Sale.
Asked my friends to "keep it under wraps."
Shhhh.

Had to snap (tap?) this one for a friend.

I'm seeing "under" in more places and in new ways.

We put lunch "under Linus's name."

 Under the Starbucks counter.

I was so focused on being Under that I was surprised to
see what was Next To.  Just two pals out for a stroll.

Linus wanted us to take a picture of what was Under the roof of the car -- it was us!
And things got Silly!

 Silly!

 Silly!

He crawled to the front of the car & just look what was Under his shoe.

Under is everywhere.

Under Linus's tongue...

On the way home we drove by the Bicycling Hall of Fame.  Hmm-- a sport under scrutiny lately.

Now I can't stop.  I'm seeing it everywhere.  Things that are underrated, underserved, understated.  And, of course, things that are just plain under.  A woman waiting for a bus while standing under a bus sign that is under a tree.  And I find myself wondering as I drive along: what does it look like under that?  And that?  And that?

Now I'm just noticing more.
I call this one Garbage Day.

 

 We end the day with a

Pinata under construction.

And, I end the day with new inspiration.  

Check out the Flickr group, FMS Photo a Day, to see some beautiful and creative photography.

baby bok choy, 2 ways

We had baby bok choy for dinner.

Slice off the bottoms

We had baby bok choy for art.

Use paint for stamping on cards
Use pastels for leaves & notes

Lovely

Stir-fried bok choy with roasted peanuts
3 Tbsp peanuts
2 tsp roasted peanut oil
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (too hot for Linus - probably reduce if serving to kids)
salt
1 1/2 lbs bok choy
2 Tbsp peanut oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 3 Tbsp water or stock
1 tsp roasted peanut oil

Fry the peanuts in 2 tsp roasted peanut oil until they're golden brown.  Chop with the pepper flakes and a few pinches of salt (if peanuts are unsalted) & set aside.

Slice off the bok choy stems and cut them into 1-inch pieces.  Leave the leaves whole.  Coat pan with up to 2 Tbsp peanut oil.  When hot, add the garlic and stir-fry for 1 minute.  Add the bok choy and a few pinches of salt and stir-fry until wilted and glossy.  Add the soy sauce and cornstarch and stir-fry for 1 or 2 minutes more or until the leaves are shiny and glazed.  Add the crush peanuts, toss and serve with rice or noodles.


adapted from Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison

Make a T-shirt Bag in 10 Minutes

I'd get more use out of this T if it were a bag -- goodness knows I haul around a lot of stuff.

Cut off the sleeves just inside the seams.

Cut off the collar.

Turn the shirt inside out and sew the bottom edge closed.

Turn it right-side out.

That's it!

Every time I make one I have to stop myself from raiding everyone's drawers and using up all their T-shirts for bags.

Making Tin Can Lanterns






We didn't mark the cans with constellations for our lanterns, as some do - we just made a starry night.  A lovely, peaceful, cool breeze across the patio, crickets chirping starry night.  Bon nuit.

Eureka!

Look what I stumbled into -- a round-up of some pioneer crafts on one handy page!

quilt-to-be


You'll find these gems, or shall I say "nuggets" (ha!) here: homemade bread & butter, homemade taffy, whittling, carved soap, braided rug, cornhusk dolls, quill pens & berry ink, rag doll, stick horse, covered wagons, weaving, tin can lanterns, woven paper baskets, quilting, and dipped candles.

These are great for us -- as follow-up to our Gold Rush Day and gearing up to go back to our American Girls Group (Kirsten, 1854) -- but if you find yourself less inspired to do them, you really should make homemade butter and do this science experiment.  It's SUPER easy -- and you get to eat your results!  What could be better?  Remember to sing a silly butter-shaking song, too!  We love Sara Sponda.

Sara sponda sara sponda sara sponda ret set set

Sara sponda sara sponda sara sponda ret set set

Ador-ay-o. Ador-ay boom-day-o.

Ador-ay boom-day ret set set

ah-say pah-say oh.

(And for good measure, here's a little background to the Sara Sponda song and "Eureka!")

Making A Calendar

We were inspired at math club to make a yearly calendar. 

Fold a sheet of paper in half vertically, then horizontally & repeat twice more.  You will end up with an 8 x 8 grid.

Trace over the folds and write in the days of the week.  This is the template, to be photocopied 12 times onto cardstock.

Stack the 12 blanks, punch 2 holes at the top (for binder rings) and one hole at the bottom (for hanging).  Connect with binder rings.

 Add the year, months, and dates. 

This is a very fun book to use for this project.

Create your artwork!  You could draw right onto the calendar if you like, but we photocopy the art onto it at the copyshop because then the calendar lays flat no matter the medium you use.

The sky's the limit!  Sela has done collage, freehand, and guided projects from a great art education site called Art Projects for Kids.

August's picture was a fun tribute to two of her favorite teachers -- Janice (drawing & painting) and Heidi (clay & Art Scout leader).  Divide a sheet of watercolor paper into thirds and mark with very light (erasable) pencil lines.  One person starts the drawing in one-third of the paper.  The next person continues in the second third.  Another in the third and final section.  Then paint!

We spread this project out over the year.  And I think Sela enjoyed having me join in this month.  Linus painted alongside us, and I'm pretty sure it won't be long until he gets in on the action, too.  Our calendar hangs in the kitchen, near the table.  It's a great conversation piece -- it's where Sela writes down the things she's looking forward to.  Countdowns and packing lists and plan-making.  It's very sweet.

A Treat for Me

I found a surprise message written to me on the back of this one

For Mother's Day, I asked for a trip to the Clayground ceramic studio to make garden markers - I love the results! Sela and I made a whole batch together.  Daddy and Linus played outside and popped in periodically to visit with us, adding to my delight.  I highly recommend a trip there - on your own or with your favorite people.  The owners are fantastic - so helpful and friendly.  And they sell beautiful handcrafts of all kinds, too.  I don't think we've ever gone and then not gone next door for a delicious treat, too - if you needed more incentive.  (You get your creations right away - I was just very slow to post this!) 

My experimentation with gardening is getting better every year, and these markers add to my joy of gardening.  I'm learning a lot, we're eating A LOT of greens, and trying out new recipes.



We each get something different out of our garden, and out of our gardening experience.  I can't say enough good things about family gardening.  At every stage, we each find our niche.  We each spend as much (or as little) time doing our thing in the garden, as it fits us.  We use the space and supplies we have on hand, and make it up as we go along.  I love that gardening can be as planful or as spontaneous as works for each gardener.  You can "garden" with one pot, with one small patch of dirt, or something bigger and more formal.



Picking their first zucchini of the season. 



Linus was so happy to pick this all by himself.  He could barely hold it on his own!  I have some great shots of the process - but, as you can see, some of those were a bit... revealing.   They chose zucchini muffins as the recipe of choice for these.  Next up... zucchini pancakes, and then fried zucchini spaghetti.  We'll see...

Some garden-related books I'm enjoying this season:

The Family Kitchen Garden by Liebreich, Wagner, and Wendland       

The Herbal Kitchen by Traunfeld

How Does My Garden Grow? by DK Publishing

Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots by Karen Lovejoy

But, every time I go to the library I find another great one on the shelf!