Beauty in the Ordinary
I’ve been working on an Advent post, it’s actually a compilation of all of my Advent & Christmas resources, information, books and ideas rolled into one document that I can print and use almost like a calendar resource. I can’t wait to share it with you. Until then… It’s cold out. Gray. And we have snow predicted for this weekend. … Read More
Winter jackets…and coats…how do you store yours??? What in the world to do with all of them??? In a house with a few children, keeping up with winter wear is challenging! I…ahem…took over re-purposed our coat closet to contain our Montessori materials and other school manipulatives. So, when I asked my husband for a wall of hooks in order to… Read More
We’re enjoying some beautiful weather here and I’m attending to my fall menus. I have to be honest and tell you that I’m a little uninspired. I’m such a visual person that I really need to feel visually invited in my kitchen. I want it to be warm and welcoming. Casual and comfortable. So…I challenged myself to do a little… Read More
I don’t have time for a long post of ideas…so I’m trying to get some little people ideas up here for you as I see them. Here’s one of them: This is the littlest in a kiddie-pool that I bought for $5 and some counting bears and a few bowls. (It’s hard to find kiddie pools out-of-season, but I did… Read More
A few of you have asked about some of my favorite resources and I thought I’d try to do a few posts to let you know about those things that I find to be tried and true consistent tools in our home. You know about some of our music favorites for littles, today lets talk about television programs for littles…. Read More
You know, some days I need to take time to linger over a sunny little vignette a little longer than other days. Some days I need to ground myself in something simple. Something real. A little place tucked away. I carved out this little bit of shelf space for myself several months ago, and I quite enjoy it. Walking past… Read More
Life…in the ordinary parts of the day are often in need of beautiful reminders that we work and labor for Him. I’m so excited to recommend a lovely little shop just bursting with extra-ordinary reminders that bring joy and beauty to the ordinary moments of our days! Right now, there’s a fantastic Ten Dollar Tote sale going on that you… Read More
The following is a story wherein my 9 year old son does a bit of vocation discernment. Let me set the scene for you, it’s a bit of a twisty road, so stay with me: The house is frantic and abuzz with energy. Daddy has been in California all week, and will be home in 1 hour. We know. We… Read More
We spent some treasured time visiting family and from there enjoyed a long walk through the amazing gardens at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. Lots of sunshine and memories to tuck away and treasure! Thought you’d enjoy a peek! Garden views… Front porch views… Hope the view from your front porch swing is just as lovely!
It’s been a rainy day here – perfect for sitting down with my recipe index and favorite cookbooks and finding some inspiring recipes to add to my master spring menu listing! With late spring we enjoy lighter meals, and look to take advantage of the plentiful seasonal fruits and veggies around here. I spent the morning at the farmer’s market… Read More
Happy Spring everyone! Don’t you find that in between seasons is the hardest time to be attentive in the kitchen? I do. My menus have been lamentable of late, but I’m invigorated by the last few sunny days and motivated to get some spring menus in place! I was thinking that freshening up a bit in my kitchen might go… Read More
Casey writes: I was wondering if maybe you could give a young mother of two babies under 2yrs of age in a very small apartment some advice. I am in great need of a purging of childrens’ toys after Christmas, but I am unsure how to decide what to keep and what to give away as I do anticipate there… Read More
Surely, you all are done with your Christmas shopping, right? No? I was standing in the kitchen today and looking around at a few objects and thinking, “These are among some of the most treasured and enjoyable gifts we’ve received.” Curious? Here you go…you still have time if you overnight with Amazon! This is the solar powered rainbow maker. Have… Read More
As promised, I’m back to offer a few more recipes from my early autumn menus. Specifically requested were the Penne with 5 cheeses, and the Beef Stroganoff Casserole recipes. I’ll just list them all here for you…and if you see something that looks appealing, grab it and try it. I…um…never follow a recipe exactly…ever. So, everything here has been adjusted… Read More
After posting my menus, you all were eager to see a few recipes – I’m happy to share a few with you. Let me know if I missed one that you were interested in! I’ll add the other recipes in future installments…but I promise not to make you wait long! Breakfasts Puffed Pancakes Oatmeal Bake Homemade bread/Skillet Toast and Jam… Read More
The temperatures are dropping here, and the trees are beginning to offer beautiful and rich colors…and, not directly related to the natural season, but a welcome harbinger of autumn for us…football season is here! I thought this weekend would be the perfect time to transform my menus, which I consider and set in place seasonally. I must confess that I’m… Read More
I have mentioned my love for aprons in a few posts and several of you have asked me about them. I did not always view an apron with such pleasure. I thought them so utilitarian that they utterly bored me to tears. But as I progress in my vocation, I am discovering them anew, and finding so much joy in… Read More
After the Detailed Look Through the Learning Spaces post, Jaime asks… “I would love to hear more about how your daily routines go….how does your day flow?” Keep in mind that organization and order are helps to the busy mother. There is an investment of time on the front end of organizing something – whether that is your school room… Read More
Sweet Pea and I watched an episode of the Barefoot Contessa that inspired us – it’s the one that Ina cooks a delicious meal with a potluck and friends. Do you remember that one? We’ve seen it a couple of times, but this time Sweet Pea wanted to take the idea and run with it. In this episode, Ina makes… Read More
I started this post as a way of showing you my new collection of vintage white pottery (which is growing), but as I was uploading pictures and typing I decided I really wanted to show you where my cranberry red cabinet came from. It’s come a long way! It started here…in my parents old farmhouse…as a built-in-ish thing…in the living… Read More
I have a special fondness for baskets. I use them for everything….setting out small groups of toys, arranging a family of books together for display, setting out a collection of tools for a small activity, gathering small hand puppets together. If you read here at all, you know how much I adore a charming display of objects in pretty baskets…. Read More
Doodlebug is 11 months old now. She’s walking, investigating, exploring, disrupting, playing, taking, pulling, chewing, and charming us to pieces! Her new mobility has required some creative solutions to any material object living at the 3 foot or below level. It meant that many of my Montessori materials (the ones with smallish pieces) had to be put away…just for a… Read More
Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. I want to dedicate some time to frugality so I’m starting Frugal Fridays. I was always in awe of and I confess, slightly amused by my Granny who would wash those styrofoam trays that meat came on. She’d rinse and save absolutely everything. If a shirt had a… Read More
As persons made in the image of God, the desire to create is imprinted on our very souls. We all, in some way need to create. A young lady in preparing herself in the domestic arts has many skills to take in. This post is really just to be a collection of links in order to follow some trails and… Read More
