tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21596231483456958362024-02-19T06:58:26.733-05:00Doting on DeirdreMy Rhythm and Rhyme in Motherhood
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09095598329895472755noreply@blogger.comBlogger212125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-26989569234573213552015-02-19T20:10:00.000-05:002015-08-19T15:01:02.388-04:00Goodbye! <div align="”right”">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBN5FdjcZEFHa3xlkz50Lz_7oxY0d9aLdrBSXFKGs8K101ViF8wZ1condsWH5T7LZh3N8-qxcvagdc_OHmODcBbedqNQsmev26Wq8PTVKoNN_NVMGA12-6GCbrxgoCpYu15XYFvq1BkbIV/s1600/1-P1100454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBN5FdjcZEFHa3xlkz50Lz_7oxY0d9aLdrBSXFKGs8K101ViF8wZ1condsWH5T7LZh3N8-qxcvagdc_OHmODcBbedqNQsmev26Wq8PTVKoNN_NVMGA12-6GCbrxgoCpYu15XYFvq1BkbIV/s1600/1-P1100454.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dear sweet online village! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After a long pause, I have decided to begin a new blog in a new place and close my sweet Doting on Deirdre. I began this blog when I was married and pregnant with Jonas. I blogged through births, home schooling, and my marriage. Now I am no longer married, I have a new career, and I have a new lease on life. A healthier, brighter, more peaceful life, after years of deep darkness and trying to save something that needed to not be. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So while I love this little place and I will keep it up here, I wanted a clean break. My other online places (<a href="https://twitter.com/dotingondeirdre" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/dotingondeirdre/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DotingOnDeirdre" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>) will stay the same but our new family blog will be here now at <a href="http://justiceleagueheadquarters.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-new-place-huzzah.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Justice League Headquarters</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you're been a longtime friend or are relative new, please join me over there. A lot of happy and exciting things will be happening for us this year and I'd love to share it with you! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Love and light always, </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Nicole </i></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09095598329895472755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-629305081073070162015-01-23T15:16:00.001-05:002015-01-23T15:17:09.944-05:00:: this moment ::<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-1Mv-PJ6QcRhlUD8E05Yf2uxi-YjodeiJ37nUi16PNuMU3w4XMrIeCDKd4GynldlM3IyqRvSwdOwHSYuI1ljy3BiLrLP13fwbh_X_i1Fk2ggTnSZNAI4coq_OV9_qYMHmXPuqprngYjP/s640/blogger-image--2006681632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-1Mv-PJ6QcRhlUD8E05Yf2uxi-YjodeiJ37nUi16PNuMU3w4XMrIeCDKd4GynldlM3IyqRvSwdOwHSYuI1ljy3BiLrLP13fwbh_X_i1Fk2ggTnSZNAI4coq_OV9_qYMHmXPuqprngYjP/s640/blogger-image--2006681632.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>Birthed by Soulemama. One or a few photos using no words to sum up the spirit of your week.<div><br></div><div>This is week 2 of my 52 weeks of black and white photos of each of my children. </div><div><br></div><div>Feel free to join me! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9zSzOZMhczztcieTybUeCLKuVX5XNin11HOQncGXrgd6r6F5CB9l1tsqHWgEHBFF9Y13cBo5NMEk96Y6-2a2XiRF0ynTS4GhoHMAGQe62tOsrxG9xqgksfX51egzlJJ5NWHlGgeNxx0i/s640/blogger-image--1763475160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9zSzOZMhczztcieTybUeCLKuVX5XNin11HOQncGXrgd6r6F5CB9l1tsqHWgEHBFF9Y13cBo5NMEk96Y6-2a2XiRF0ynTS4GhoHMAGQe62tOsrxG9xqgksfX51egzlJJ5NWHlGgeNxx0i/s640/blogger-image--1763475160.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvupe9RiRXfCr15PU3-Czm5FbZfhi7dhIQBYVxOUdX8STEX1xAUDsd4aZIM7pYVAvRmhH-_9j87k_CHPI7N_ZrEzLqNEocxbGQQPWnUCGFVF0dg8gftuqH342Ejh80NB7dCkZOd5V5ils/s640/blogger-image--575858027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvupe9RiRXfCr15PU3-Czm5FbZfhi7dhIQBYVxOUdX8STEX1xAUDsd4aZIM7pYVAvRmhH-_9j87k_CHPI7N_ZrEzLqNEocxbGQQPWnUCGFVF0dg8gftuqH342Ejh80NB7dCkZOd5V5ils/s640/blogger-image--575858027.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09095598329895472755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-31947400330687028122015-01-20T18:59:00.000-05:002015-07-02T21:25:59.591-04:00Waldorf Storytelling in the Winter <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyHb2-Y4D0iwuBuZkxkDVXcU1BCG46LYEOGtxQvKteXI3WroQaloL5xd5Yw1Z1cXIA2-VcfPmYZTEFnSyvXieNRFO0FPg8xTwn5U8WGAyTgpX45S9zwq40FEPYLpFToFN969fzRYgBk05/s1600/ROTH+Winter+2.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZHuQhSRodTt2BFpR8B_1mtdhMHPfJtLp_hNlziiQwlRQby_jKWxZgC0VapXD3HOpWrp-5-Y5Z6akDBo_FaIizLckzw8ydJV8z_nn1PaaUKN41IIBzsUrkbh6ifrms-Fn4i8MP22zRQz9/s1600/ROTH+Winter+13.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wintertime has always been a time of drawing inward for me. Emotionally and physically. I grew up in a beach town and spent most of my days outside except during the winter. The shift was a drastic one for me each year and I found myself slowing down and resting. Winter is a time of rest, and still is. My children and I are all on such a seasonal cycle now when it comes to our playing, living, and learning.- just like I was as a child and a teen. The main difference now is that I lead them into our resting cycle. I set the tone for our home and what we’ll be doing.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="497" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JTO8AePKe-yHNu3dhtnz6PjHb9YQ1g1_2Kdm6KfJbvIhcsIn75swwpmyCKM7tN3ORmBlCQTe91IPdEbxVVoJWhXMF8-8fo6rkrWyP-rzkkr482ntJHyoj9D7la-HnOo3aw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now naturally we find ourselves inside more in the winter. We lose our post nap outdoor time due to the dark. I found myself three years ago struggling to fill that void of time with something other than television. It seemed that their indoor play, while usually rich and harmonious, was not flowing well during this time of the day.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I took to storytelling. Now we usually had story time at bed and during circle time, but this was different. While it was intentional and took a bit of planning, But it was also more free. I followed their interests more. What conflicts they had been having during the day. Something we saw on a walk…</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At this point you might be thinking, “Um well I am BAD at telling stories and making up my own”. Well to be honest, so am I. But to my kids, they think it’s pulitzer prize material. I have a few tips on how I do it, a few different ways I do storytelling, and then how I use it in other areas of our life. I’ll share those below but first I just want to reiterate, we are storytellers. All of us. It’s in our genes, literally. We’ve been telling stories much longer than we've been writing them down. So let’s just dispel the, “I can’t and I am no good” idea right now. Take it from me. I’ve been to a few Paleolithic caves in Northern Spain and been surrounded by and seeped in their history and paintings. We truly are a people of stories. We are still griots. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="468" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/YVE9Q8VOuCpB9UnkrIZCvZESy4MtMOx8HAbbur7VW_FzHQbO6gChoxR70KPE9FbhJRAYdRrvoPA-sTp7WHQJXx8GDF1BFaeR0gUvBI-9e4D725gzmcnO7IcgHiuJ27-xJQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Jonas enjoying a story time snack of gingerbread while I tell my version of the gingerbread children)</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few ways to help you begin…</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-First, be confident in yourself. If you aren’t then you’ll pause and get lost in your own words. This is fine though, if you do, because your audience adores you! I find that I am my own worst enemy. Exude confidence.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Decide upon your subject or topic ahead of time. Plot out your story points in your mind- beginning, middle, and resolution. Keep them short and sweet when you first begin. All of this will come easier the more you do it. And if you feel better at first writing it out, then do it. This should be stress free, so do it in whatever way makes you feel less stressed.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Pick an introduction or an anchor point that you repeat every time you tell a story. This lets the children know, oh!, it’s story time. I begin all my bedtime David stories with:</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>“Once upon a time</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>There was a little gnome names David</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>Who lived at the base of the old oak tree</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>And every morning when he wakes up</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>He puts on his red pointy hat and walks downstairs to eat his breakfast</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>And every morning for breakfast he has a hard boiled egg in a little blue egg cup</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>When he is finished he gives his wife Lisa a kiss good-bye and puts on his boots and walks outdoors into the forest</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>You see, David is a forest helper gnome</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>His job is to help and protect the animals of the forest from trouble.”</i></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- If your stories build upon one another or are related, make sure to recap your last story at the end of your introduction or anchor point. It helps the children not to feel lost if they forgot bits of the last story.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-When the children are young, try to keep the stories simple. What might seem boring to you, is not to them.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-I find serving warm drink, like tea or cocoa, helps set a nice cosy tone for winter storytime. We pile up pillows and blankets. I usually light a candle too.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Use props for your stories. Now not every story needs to be a full production, but if you are telling a story about an owl, pull out your owl puppet of figure. This is especially helpful for little boys.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-It is normal for children, especially boys, to fidget and move around a bit while you tell a story. This is fine. They are paying attention. It is just how they learn and how their brains are wired. if you are interested in this, please pick up a copy of Michael Gurian's book on how boys and girls learn differently.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Different ways to storytell…</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the tips above I mainly discuss storytelling aloud with your own original stories. This is not the only way to story tell or the only way we do it. Here are a few other ways we do winter story time.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<b><i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Shadow Puppets</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="468" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Eq7YjKX-2cBtedyn-Q0RDwwpsEifCwKSmhshYYAeATfIT0BR-sSE-LWJ5Q_AYTaktaqUAHVBrPLgbqTllja-S0QudkmATjq1Biot0giHJmCLA6YaY7s-XQHbxp1pfhItsg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Naturally because it gets darker sooner in the winter, it makes for great shadow puppetry. This will take a bit more prep time, but it is worth it. But be ready. Once you’re done with your story, the kids will want to do many of their own! A great way to make your own shadow puppets is to just google image search for a silhouette of whatever you want, say a dragon. Then print, cut, and paste your dragon silhouette to dark cardstock and… you've got a free shadow puppet! Also if you want to make your own theater, an easy way to do this is just use an old shipping box. Cut out the bottom and tape white drawing paper over it. Viola! Yes it is that simple. That is how we made ours in the photo.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Books with Props</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="468" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_sx1-TjBmdMlN5tAiefB_uTTJ5N7UR2nPTDfGio8ZdZ0_r_ojur4eX-QlVZdQHI0-kcggfa7xD73gOg2vnVvaQdmUt0-0laJh-94CreSnGrt-rVPe4bNiGoBi6VubS86FA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes my creative juices get tired and are not flowing. It is during those times I turn to our favorite books. Usually I will read the story aloud, but I have props on hand to use. Many times I will even make up my own version of the story using the props to act it back out. One we love to do in the winter is tell about what happens the next time the Snow Children come to play with Poppy or what the three Kings would do if they could not find the star.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="468" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/aNa7x6yV97wawQYLRFb8jveqzg8iKvtY_z563RfUglMeWYt-zLM8gKOtQcfcgg5VnSBTKDdlyH4FkaoyxKsbjBzs6ucif8qd9ZJ0QHuVI5HBjt31H5Fzaz5mQC8TmaLc_w" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Interactive Plays</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="721" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/1iaSF3_LYtw0yoj8sXag27GtMtgOkQqm5_uqmkCiMQCXcw0R5tNDWhDGrKKsjB7uiYj4PY2Ffdwys1f4MyCd6jAbMYtks5j5mkdzcYp-IPJ2UO6tey__Z7OelItcT9qAaA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is another favorite of ours. Once I am done telling my story I encourage the children to go act it out on their own and then to come back and put on a play for me. I set the stage and help with costumes of course, but the storyline is all their own. My favorite was when my son, who is three, came up with an ingenious way to use a red play silk as dragon fire. Also from a teaching point of view, this is a good tool to help children internalize the story or material that they’ve just learned.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Scenery Changes</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="472" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ClLoJ8o_a7AUk7p76f1qV6C7r3zpdsAfVFsuY4ZhzPuMtDNf_2PttkP2QZdeJ-jHVRfNFc1CBx9AcCOx2a6rou74XWd99_Yk81uM6TzA19UQO9qiP4oyRADIuc0FowtDPg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As with any season, even in the cold winter, we still like to go outdoors to do some storytelling. We love to start a fire in our fire pit and snuggle up to a David story. We also have a few favorite outdoor classrooms at local parks that we love to go to for story time.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="557" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/__Z1vgecH_meTQ6nGelv6tBF91WPF_P6gVvgMTZUpONR9BIFmXXlfxT4WgA9oYZQ525Ej76ePYJYNJn4XbgV2AvECG63_d0al8VMgK1BzVMHfEdvbOEEC7iI_X_OVP7RTQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Ways to weave storytelling into other areas of your life…</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Book nooks</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="800" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/BdIDUrOoNzZU3CZfQXUuHVo1Tys_jU5OucAYnH5z_YhNmrRdUOQMyaZw1IShM-vju3iVnB6WcRjvpMBnmE_Q8dY71hyp8CLP80prL-swpu-SfRnFy9AMjFflOtGDpUo9Pg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="600" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keeping out season book in a little nook of your home is great fodder for story telling. Adding a few story props as well make it all the more alluring to little ones. Throw in a comfy sheepskin and a little candle and soon they’ll be in heaven.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Story inspired play</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="468" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_LZy-QO5AEH4ZlvdDyX6_h0tT_1dNCHrqoZtbOdt2Ay1OSI03Q74nV6KoFLMYfkzceUbDO4eaZXr4Ty-_EfQ-67AHJ0cxcRWDUbBpKz1sHgP-3IbfRx4RBEsZoYPxHy1aQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is similar having them put on their own played based on your story but it is a bit more simple and self directed. If I happen to be telling a gnome story, I make sure to pull out their gnome house and playthings and set it up for them in their playroom. I do the same thing for them if it’s a farm story with their barn or a valentine’s story. Also the upside to this is that they will usually play for an extended time, which allows me spend some more one on one time with our baby.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="468" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xevhoelKTtr6KrkcqhTAuSpUjZOktZpjlN1I1MDJndH__dBpCmM3OEU_AyFLXTDhSD9XL39uo913W6VKEPtYREBrK0OB_jUeVsdseIoPrL6g3QTt0DeIaH4yFNxwwtUuOg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Themes</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you homeschool or do weekend school- or truly even your kids attend school- you can tailor your stories to what you are currently teaching them or what they are learning. As I am writing this, even though it is not the winter, we are currently on our Fall pumpkin theme. So naturally I am telling more stories about pumpkins and I have lots of pumpkin books out in our nook. During last winter we did snow and animals in the winter. Having themes for each month helped me to limit the scope of the stories I was telling but in a good way, not a stifling one. I also was able to include crafts that related to our stories and even a few outings, which helped make the stories come more alive for the children and enriched their experiences.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="800" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/985yDvq1yAx6SFFbX3NbyMxDjr9zrI-uVbB4zYusitateKlbTbGYrXmFsT6U-DPv5XbKSt4_tUfpZ6AI--bo6T8vZgJ45WRQcBmNiBaNyIT8HbHoeCLp24iSF4X-O-2ObA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="600" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Planting seedlings while telling my Imbolc story</i></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope this leaves you with confidence in your ability to tell stories to your children. You can do it anyway that best fits in your family. How my family tells stories should look different in your home. That’s the beauty of oral storytelling. We make it ours. We change it to what is most meaningful to us. And it leaves a lasting mark on the souls of our children. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDqCO_YQ84VCXzxthBhcvBvXdkZCiAsA0R4itMsmu3e-5nACVIPhn69lKGQD6V_p23pWYohBG7cEIkQkCWSz3FIPQMgfe7e1JVVx2eS7i78ladU7VltB57zeFzR-zqYPWSZjZJJWWwhC1/s1600/ROTH+Winter+12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDqCO_YQ84VCXzxthBhcvBvXdkZCiAsA0R4itMsmu3e-5nACVIPhn69lKGQD6V_p23pWYohBG7cEIkQkCWSz3FIPQMgfe7e1JVVx2eS7i78ladU7VltB57zeFzR-zqYPWSZjZJJWWwhC1/s1600/ROTH+Winter+12.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">
</span></span><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09095598329895472755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-40927466632254801902015-01-16T11:35:00.001-05:002015-01-16T11:35:46.844-05:00:: this moment ::<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFip71pSFjhX5HRo4NbS-e1MMgdRtWHR58MpcAN0crOR5zmDx-aYphlH3tzk9LfeBc45d2QGDaX5R3Ecvw0nXLTa-G-rnDTjY8rXAnE5chU1Qr0HNLPCUz8U65uJOF14w0mhK6tK_XqHlC/s640/blogger-image--635988306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFip71pSFjhX5HRo4NbS-e1MMgdRtWHR58MpcAN0crOR5zmDx-aYphlH3tzk9LfeBc45d2QGDaX5R3Ecvw0nXLTa-G-rnDTjY8rXAnE5chU1Qr0HNLPCUz8U65uJOF14w0mhK6tK_XqHlC/s640/blogger-image--635988306.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>Birthed by Soulemama <div><br></div><div>Share your favorite photo from your week, using few to no words.</div><div><br></div><div>I have decided this year that each week I am going to take a black and white photo of each of my children. I want to see their growth week by week, so feel free to join with me! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ldxL6MR6TQQbai8Z3LWgkDcuUcTcl7DOG0Pxp7sGh58uiOFZYdqJHf9qIdll8P9XTUpyuAi45E0bamX5CFo3L_r4cIrtXnAf-ka5laC1hGihlgbRWaVFrw7kBRK_l_Tf_okhIZaz7j_o/s640/blogger-image-214202030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ldxL6MR6TQQbai8Z3LWgkDcuUcTcl7DOG0Pxp7sGh58uiOFZYdqJHf9qIdll8P9XTUpyuAi45E0bamX5CFo3L_r4cIrtXnAf-ka5laC1hGihlgbRWaVFrw7kBRK_l_Tf_okhIZaz7j_o/s640/blogger-image-214202030.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09095598329895472755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-65529723935355004732015-01-13T21:14:00.001-05:002015-07-02T21:25:46.246-04:00Winter Down Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt0KB6L1rC9XYpvHFuayRoRWVgWCFeZ57e_JZO5P3AKSRyq9lSCPe4CVTXN4k9ODIOBPIzWGYQJ1_sjOy919L6Bn1uKmISySMs0uQWYjFKpWatJ62mBW1upqGw46iGyERaDcpFcx1rArR/s640/blogger-image-129046382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt0KB6L1rC9XYpvHFuayRoRWVgWCFeZ57e_JZO5P3AKSRyq9lSCPe4CVTXN4k9ODIOBPIzWGYQJ1_sjOy919L6Bn1uKmISySMs0uQWYjFKpWatJ62mBW1upqGw46iGyERaDcpFcx1rArR/s640/blogger-image-129046382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamFs3k_t_kxe6hXsPXL-E4zAp5_yYW6D5wEGh1seYXM2JlyGA92A3bibiPw8KV2tCcnfmOdfiiM2z0V9JWV1F3SjffMJ2NIBYSN1VjaiVMh90ah3DVYGsJ2wyx0E6emAilUg4XCm8OF4I/s640/blogger-image-701809392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamFs3k_t_kxe6hXsPXL-E4zAp5_yYW6D5wEGh1seYXM2JlyGA92A3bibiPw8KV2tCcnfmOdfiiM2z0V9JWV1F3SjffMJ2NIBYSN1VjaiVMh90ah3DVYGsJ2wyx0E6emAilUg4XCm8OF4I/s640/blogger-image-701809392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPnQtKmCgz6MFsX0ew4_mMVJnmyrVK8DenB1frK1F5mwsr2m8yjmxG8XW3y1Er991LV8DoPNUXQ3cv3iMajzrGlFGZBlVtSBw3pzDGHbCj7oXdoc0-La7fFlertQD6kLlM7Q81VgJ7Pjn/s640/blogger-image-657881535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPnQtKmCgz6MFsX0ew4_mMVJnmyrVK8DenB1frK1F5mwsr2m8yjmxG8XW3y1Er991LV8DoPNUXQ3cv3iMajzrGlFGZBlVtSBw3pzDGHbCj7oXdoc0-La7fFlertQD6kLlM7Q81VgJ7Pjn/s640/blogger-image-657881535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyv9RmZTZSue4b8fe0eDugJUUYaEIQc2UhdD3HBe3ScKWFJ4g6STCcCFU06sRR9j9jgnFNiYU6jZaj9VqJSNo5tlGK-fo6XarmaKlmyYmqkiDNJpiHi52utrVxYAHgLEEEjqDBZPvwwa1I/s640/blogger-image--2014300399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyv9RmZTZSue4b8fe0eDugJUUYaEIQc2UhdD3HBe3ScKWFJ4g6STCcCFU06sRR9j9jgnFNiYU6jZaj9VqJSNo5tlGK-fo6XarmaKlmyYmqkiDNJpiHi52utrVxYAHgLEEEjqDBZPvwwa1I/s640/blogger-image--2014300399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMcIZIoK1JNP-5O6pnF8B7F-gQC6Ne6plukuJ6xiYBSOjsTOSKUsRFyk4mPInTE0U7gXsFu3uiMRH74bbe7Tt2n1lh_vYwiYjRHXSGfr4S4M_I7FZXYZ9YJqKme0WZk7aTcsKK96PiZyU/s640/blogger-image--1769158263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMcIZIoK1JNP-5O6pnF8B7F-gQC6Ne6plukuJ6xiYBSOjsTOSKUsRFyk4mPInTE0U7gXsFu3uiMRH74bbe7Tt2n1lh_vYwiYjRHXSGfr4S4M_I7FZXYZ9YJqKme0WZk7aTcsKK96PiZyU/s640/blogger-image--1769158263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmoL6HZkOUhXKByi0G-vlIS9a-H8zvxLnwPzELax-nwfju0_uF89Q1KqBdSUQuBhgUBNFXOv-k346xcjPSqLU0cZ4qtrw2e-V7CxBYnxAgs5zU39ebX8uw7ijh_he1TGwEspMKDMlvERk/s640/blogger-image--78860665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmoL6HZkOUhXKByi0G-vlIS9a-H8zvxLnwPzELax-nwfju0_uF89Q1KqBdSUQuBhgUBNFXOv-k346xcjPSqLU0cZ4qtrw2e-V7CxBYnxAgs5zU39ebX8uw7ijh_he1TGwEspMKDMlvERk/s640/blogger-image--78860665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDEhajLvGMCBFIsrTE_1m31XdeaHUKI6R8A3Ih291i3q4_NEXhJ_dRxscLhJkT_lwWrb3M0fb8bdmNAfjh4PwTELDBmlwJODMgI87EcGbKTCrhZro3QThkIsOn1XTruKTzIGeMbSS-glJ/s640/blogger-image-1166548178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDEhajLvGMCBFIsrTE_1m31XdeaHUKI6R8A3Ih291i3q4_NEXhJ_dRxscLhJkT_lwWrb3M0fb8bdmNAfjh4PwTELDBmlwJODMgI87EcGbKTCrhZro3QThkIsOn1XTruKTzIGeMbSS-glJ/s400/blogger-image-1166548178.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmoL6HZkOUhXKByi0G-vlIS9a-H8zvxLnwPzELax-nwfju0_uF89Q1KqBdSUQuBhgUBNFXOv-k346xcjPSqLU0cZ4qtrw2e-V7CxBYnxAgs5zU39ebX8uw7ijh_he1TGwEspMKDMlvERk/s400/blogger-image--78860665.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMcIZIoK1JNP-5O6pnF8B7F-gQC6Ne6plukuJ6xiYBSOjsTOSKUsRFyk4mPInTE0U7gXsFu3uiMRH74bbe7Tt2n1lh_vYwiYjRHXSGfr4S4M_I7FZXYZ9YJqKme0WZk7aTcsKK96PiZyU/s400/blogger-image--1769158263.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyv9RmZTZSue4b8fe0eDugJUUYaEIQc2UhdD3HBe3ScKWFJ4g6STCcCFU06sRR9j9jgnFNiYU6jZaj9VqJSNo5tlGK-fo6XarmaKlmyYmqkiDNJpiHi52utrVxYAHgLEEEjqDBZPvwwa1I/s640/blogger-image--2014300399.jpg" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The little ones and I have been enjoying some down time this January. I and half of my department are on furlough from Colonial Williamsburg- so we get some more time together!! That time has been spent crafting, playing, and day tripping. Last weekend we were lucky enough to go the Baltimore aquarium. It was so lovely. By far our favorite things were the Dolphins and jellyfish. As always Jonas adored the Sharks. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
This extra free time has also allowed to use our new Christmas art supplies and the shadow puppet theater that the elves brought. Shadow puppets have been a favorite for years now. The plays that the kids come up with are riotous. They never cease to make me laugh. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
All and all we're loving January, despite not being the biggest fan of the cold and recovering from the flu that we all got right before Christmas. Hopefully we'll squeeze in more day trips before the furlough is over. Regardless I am treasuring our time together. I am continually awed by the blessings that my children are and filled with such immense gratitude for the life we've carved out here for ourselves. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamFs3k_t_kxe6hXsPXL-E4zAp5_yYW6D5wEGh1seYXM2JlyGA92A3bibiPw8KV2tCcnfmOdfiiM2z0V9JWV1F3SjffMJ2NIBYSN1VjaiVMh90ah3DVYGsJ2wyx0E6emAilUg4XCm8OF4I/s400/blogger-image-701809392.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt0KB6L1rC9XYpvHFuayRoRWVgWCFeZ57e_JZO5P3AKSRyq9lSCPe4CVTXN4k9ODIOBPIzWGYQJ1_sjOy919L6Bn1uKmISySMs0uQWYjFKpWatJ62mBW1upqGw46iGyERaDcpFcx1rArR/s400/blogger-image-129046382.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiYru3zgHym3c9vfiFynpcIrT-LYrXA916t7aVsOD9u-LFP63q-eQRNAZ7v8eNO5hRukUhq-mc8ybtntMINj-OIy1WSuHgO1wTPI36e7L_92gae1dk4zqq9OdJLUjLf4ESHQKZKPr5InQ/s640/blogger-image--668580529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiYru3zgHym3c9vfiFynpcIrT-LYrXA916t7aVsOD9u-LFP63q-eQRNAZ7v8eNO5hRukUhq-mc8ybtntMINj-OIy1WSuHgO1wTPI36e7L_92gae1dk4zqq9OdJLUjLf4ESHQKZKPr5InQ/s400/blogger-image--668580529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09095598329895472755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-37745408579408766342015-01-09T16:06:00.001-05:002015-01-14T13:22:24.167-05:00::this moment::<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Our moment. From Soulemama.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Miss Deirdre painting her first big girl canvas! Please share your moments too in the comments.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Love and light to you and yours!</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQLdSvGoDUaFhCJy-PMRlhopgWwLymNoPaRDiDzv7rYiCBM3XaltpghZ1Z0DUJ0JpBzd7JgCjMqSFoTbU9rH0xMJ4EnU4Hw3iYMLweWAROdwKjNZFL8UqRhb0qwV4rBxMsodjbPJ9RYwZ/s640/blogger-image--1191817593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQLdSvGoDUaFhCJy-PMRlhopgWwLymNoPaRDiDzv7rYiCBM3XaltpghZ1Z0DUJ0JpBzd7JgCjMqSFoTbU9rH0xMJ4EnU4Hw3iYMLweWAROdwKjNZFL8UqRhb0qwV4rBxMsodjbPJ9RYwZ/s400/blogger-image--1191817593.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09095598329895472755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-49178015867635114332014-12-04T20:18:00.000-05:002014-12-04T20:18:00.075-05:00Saint Nicholas' Day<div align="”right”">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Md7_r-hyU4z1dSEV3IfqzhGUf4-iHD-jDJFuxJbE3GZIZAjadvBUVlz3prYcvFsLJX3mue1kCidpcSpl85fRAs9UTOZ4f6dHWCvNLeLNVluCaxruSw7KFdXgLzg6kynE3-57lqZZe80m/s1600/P1110266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Md7_r-hyU4z1dSEV3IfqzhGUf4-iHD-jDJFuxJbE3GZIZAjadvBUVlz3prYcvFsLJX3mue1kCidpcSpl85fRAs9UTOZ4f6dHWCvNLeLNVluCaxruSw7KFdXgLzg6kynE3-57lqZZe80m/s1600/P1110266.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3', 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', メイリオ, Meiryo, 'MS Pゴシック', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><i>Nicholas, St. Nicholas, come to us today, Ride upon your white horse from far, far away. Bring us golden treasure, Fill our hearts with love, Ready for the Christ Child coming from above. Nicholas, St. Nicholas, come to us today, Ride upon your white horse from far, far away.</i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9HKg7S8ax-Ja2VUfqUM6i6WEw1bniCdgiGLgnc8TvrWd2jhgcudXB0h_UPtjmhLNS_qf5g_A7-tX_uaN6bcK0gB2vdn6c_vT-0JxxXpDRY8KnqOuPbEdL69nbPiHzMDYtNOwluqtBT1B/s1600/P1110267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9HKg7S8ax-Ja2VUfqUM6i6WEw1bniCdgiGLgnc8TvrWd2jhgcudXB0h_UPtjmhLNS_qf5g_A7-tX_uaN6bcK0gB2vdn6c_vT-0JxxXpDRY8KnqOuPbEdL69nbPiHzMDYtNOwluqtBT1B/s1600/P1110267.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Good Day Friends! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Saint Nicholas just finished visiting our house today. Addy, our advent gnome, has been helping us the past 2 days to get ready for him. On the 2nd day of advent we made cookies for him and his white horse. On the 3rd day we made letters for him as well as prepared our shoes for him and set them outside. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I know that the 6th is traditionally Saint Nicholas' feast day, but the children will be with their father on the 6th and they were worried he would miss their house since they weren't home. I informed them to fear not, that he'd come a few days early this year. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This year Saint Nicholas brought them all their oranges, gold coins, and sweets. They also got a small wooden pet toy set- a kitty, a rabbit, and a dog. Each pet came with a little food dish and house. Their pets are going to live in their farm house. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here are our celebrations from years past:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://dotingondeirdre.blogspot.com/2011/12/saint-nicholas-day.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2011</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2012:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I did not blog it but here are our photos of it! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zfXlcCzon8a8-uQCVyKLUXYTurS3vLlyNgVUUSWizekQyJn85UoLmSlJBeQys-4b-cNMw-yynuJAFJXhDDAArXB5m51bl8DC5MVVhErrD4ixZtQjBwVHeseRun37NAjDMaOt6bfBsUMu/s1600/Downloads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zfXlcCzon8a8-uQCVyKLUXYTurS3vLlyNgVUUSWizekQyJn85UoLmSlJBeQys-4b-cNMw-yynuJAFJXhDDAArXB5m51bl8DC5MVVhErrD4ixZtQjBwVHeseRun37NAjDMaOt6bfBsUMu/s1600/Downloads.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://dotingondeirdre.blogspot.com/2013/12/transitions-and-advent.html" target="_blank">2013</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So here are some photos of our past few days and advent fun. Most of our fun times are had at night after I get off work, so apologize for the poor photos. But that is the reality for the full time working mom gig I suppose. I don't mind however. Life is good. It is calm and seeped in love. Now more than ever I get to focus on quality versus quantity. And the few hours we have work and school free each day are definitely quality ridden. I just cannot get over how amazing keeping our Waldorf rhythm has been through this life transition. I am just a blessed lady. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As we adjust and slow down more and more, I am able to add back in things into our lives that we had to set to the side. One of those things being more planned craft time. Most of our craft time has been free form based around our artelier using loose parts. I'd like to bring back our water color day, our wax day, and our bread day- after work. I also have more time with the children on the weekends, so I want to plan more day trips. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But for now, this is beautiful and bright. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>May the patron saint of sailors and children shine God's love and light upon you! </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBdaHU-_dO4DvggfWBUKCFNNyzcToAmZvm6le_TDVNZnRmwSC8l3aGoWvORq0PBqMksHQfsSRHdHR-_TWLSQAov1RF3kZ-W3f-nbzMx4kFU2fMCe-MvARBlqL0HhESBvAKy02I9jbkuCG/s1600/P1110252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBdaHU-_dO4DvggfWBUKCFNNyzcToAmZvm6le_TDVNZnRmwSC8l3aGoWvORq0PBqMksHQfsSRHdHR-_TWLSQAov1RF3kZ-W3f-nbzMx4kFU2fMCe-MvARBlqL0HhESBvAKy02I9jbkuCG/s1600/P1110252.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3uMbpTs3ZRsjG3364K2n6mL8AcsutYH5Cqp8yZtyQKjGWynS6wtwSDMZZivZbkSXzRAlr8CSEuFk3jZXPF1Z6wWdoC6_yz5cnL3OflOBG5fuKd0qzxWVOiWYD09xZSKNoTKwKoyesVnJ/s1600/2014-12-011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3uMbpTs3ZRsjG3364K2n6mL8AcsutYH5Cqp8yZtyQKjGWynS6wtwSDMZZivZbkSXzRAlr8CSEuFk3jZXPF1Z6wWdoC6_yz5cnL3OflOBG5fuKd0qzxWVOiWYD09xZSKNoTKwKoyesVnJ/s1600/2014-12-011.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cookie baking! Sometimes I don't have time to change our of my colonial clothes before we do craft and dinner time! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ry-IQ0k1D81qRgG4Yg6c0nW_icm9WkHeaoBTePO_vtqgQ9j7iasF0bVAEC0sFUphTHuwGYF57RmTXUwTo5qcc3HAiNQOK4Ck9lcSDsRqx9abezqHiO2DgEWZgEFwpd6EUoo0sa8CNP0c/s1600/P1110263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ry-IQ0k1D81qRgG4Yg6c0nW_icm9WkHeaoBTePO_vtqgQ9j7iasF0bVAEC0sFUphTHuwGYF57RmTXUwTo5qcc3HAiNQOK4Ck9lcSDsRqx9abezqHiO2DgEWZgEFwpd6EUoo0sa8CNP0c/s1600/P1110263.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKbv3BUSQ9TtlVGiff5qfprokyDLSApHs5lqG3MgjNXFxmcnfdw1ix8L2Re2Rwo1Lv2Qh2D8TRi0fawHgTD8MFrNvmsHvDOcYiPqPhzR86caz_C5o2TrlkfVGZ1TV__bv_wW8pNUQeZfR/s1600/2014-12-012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKbv3BUSQ9TtlVGiff5qfprokyDLSApHs5lqG3MgjNXFxmcnfdw1ix8L2Re2Rwo1Lv2Qh2D8TRi0fawHgTD8MFrNvmsHvDOcYiPqPhzR86caz_C5o2TrlkfVGZ1TV__bv_wW8pNUQeZfR/s1600/2014-12-012.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Writing letters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutnhubPHf7LVEUSYYWr-LePECeGl7waD231VBIR3dA9b2JhxpJcZQzY_yTLYhoA7S17GgO4xig1IdATD1DV23nNWm-UFLXsT4iET4GT92VVYDnga_X_X7C66-HvK2LgfV0j33_zxVKZxm/s1600/P1110270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutnhubPHf7LVEUSYYWr-LePECeGl7waD231VBIR3dA9b2JhxpJcZQzY_yTLYhoA7S17GgO4xig1IdATD1DV23nNWm-UFLXsT4iET4GT92VVYDnga_X_X7C66-HvK2LgfV0j33_zxVKZxm/s1600/P1110270.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finding their shoes filled!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsX2e45ulHihFPXZqTH9v5lU6C09Fz8OL6y5-6nc4GHK9R7GksxLQVd7Q97ROlhJMynCLDJELptmZItoy_J0ICAjvevP_xq0G5Q_FB0moUjjZce785X_YteDG-i6FcTeNGztlbiltw81e/s1600/P1110271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsX2e45ulHihFPXZqTH9v5lU6C09Fz8OL6y5-6nc4GHK9R7GksxLQVd7Q97ROlhJMynCLDJELptmZItoy_J0ICAjvevP_xq0G5Q_FB0moUjjZce785X_YteDG-i6FcTeNGztlbiltw81e/s1600/P1110271.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They we're so excited!! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09095598329895472755noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-31215422345569999782014-12-01T23:57:00.001-05:002015-07-02T21:25:01.104-04:00Our New Advent<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8_0MprT5J7bVC6TYAa4VkesC25eX-bTdwRoVGqj6dOigMkMrsTWhTkUYte1ad7gAdNLTly4jWbgWHCdH0NBP4W1h4zLLq4kEV2sD74z8WPor16pab7CN8G05jL8zc4lsKSonDIA5NUTf/s1600/P1110246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8_0MprT5J7bVC6TYAa4VkesC25eX-bTdwRoVGqj6dOigMkMrsTWhTkUYte1ad7gAdNLTly4jWbgWHCdH0NBP4W1h4zLLq4kEV2sD74z8WPor16pab7CN8G05jL8zc4lsKSonDIA5NUTf/s1600/P1110246.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our gingerbread house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="”right”">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmk6IipFs_G-B-J6iKv-8V5hZIABWZAY6rFB6Icw7j-0VMphyphenhyphenzN4s-bb15k7QFVW2HjJoZ0fE5cWy3WD1SDqm5QBJrXB6WZY21VYoffbHqWV5SJIv9IghrDvFQRFl7kt4Dwevvd69_5Ff/s1600/P1110232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmk6IipFs_G-B-J6iKv-8V5hZIABWZAY6rFB6Icw7j-0VMphyphenhyphenzN4s-bb15k7QFVW2HjJoZ0fE5cWy3WD1SDqm5QBJrXB6WZY21VYoffbHqWV5SJIv9IghrDvFQRFl7kt4Dwevvd69_5Ff/s1600/P1110232.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Addy our advent gnome<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hello Dear Online Village!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It has been quite a long time since I last visited this place. I have missed this... the peace that I get while reflecting and writing about my day. But sometimes, absence is necessary. Since I wrote last in April, our little lives have changed happily quite a bit. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I am now working full time and have been since late May for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation as an Orientation Interpreter. After some soul searching and patience, I found the right job for us. A job that allows me to have regular work hours, good benefits, stability- but one that also allows me to be emotional present at the end of the day. A job that I don't have to bring work home with me and I can go back to my favorite job, that of being a mother. The best part of my job? It combines two of my passions, history and teaching- minus the grading and paperwork. If you ever happen to be in colonial Williamsburg, stop by and say hello! I don't think I can gush enough about how blessed I feel to have the job that I have. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The little ones are now in school part-time and Deirdre is in first grade. They all love their schools and teachers. I am so blessed at the amazing schools we were given here. And while it wasn't my plan or desire fro them to go to public school or for me to work full time away from them, this has proven to be an easy transition and they're thriving immensely. I think they are doing so well due to all the time I did spend at home with them. Our rhythm hasn't changed when we are home and Waldorf has set them all up to do well in school, and they each are excelling. My gratitude for Waldorf never ceases to end. <i>It works</i>. And boy does keeping the same rhythm help. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In addition to the new job, we also have a new house! Another benefit to working of CWF is that we can rent their homes. The kids, their godmother, and I were lucky enough to get one of the homes and it just so happens to be one of CW's 88 original buildings, the Seymour Powell Tenement. I still cannot get over how neat it is every day when I come home to this house that was built in 1753. The history major inside of me is constantly geeking out. Not to mention, but the house has a hidden staircase and doorways, so the kids LOVE it. Did I also mention that we have woods in the backyard and we live walking distance form the historic area? Be still my heart. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Lastly, I have met the most amazing, kind, and brilliant people in the past few months. My new church Bruton, which is just amazing. Basically, I have found a new voluntary family. People who chose to be in my life and stand by me not because they feel obligated to do so, but because they want to do so. While in no way do they replace my blood family or my ladies, it has been a huge affirmation to meet them all in this place. I am where I should be.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This phase of my life hasn't been without darkness or hardship. It will always be there in some capacity I suppose. But it is nice to know, I no longer have to be apart of that or associate with it. That my life is separate. My soul is free. I never knew how <i>bright </i>life could be except through my children. It's nice for my whole life to be bright again, as it should have always been. And for once, I get to plan a real future and not just be forced to meander by daily with no long term vision. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So here we are, celebrating our new advent in a new place. Addy, our advent gnome, is out and about leaving fun notes and activities for the kids. Aunt and Uncle J bought the children advent bible verse calendars which we began tonight. For our first day, we made a gingerbread house and hung our stockings. Addy also left the children 3 chocolate coins. Tomorrow we'll get out our advent ring and decorate more. This advent is going to be so so much fun!! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So dear friends, I'll leave you all now. I think this update is enough to get you all up to speed on our lives. It's my goal to be in this place more now that our lives have hit their happy calm. Enjoy the photos and please share what you're doing this advent! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKQdbBh-0FgjZ6a2JcCV3l3sKwENFkAkMZhb4j1SSdsuo5aK_PK4-fB3azvwL8_dfzxg5KIwqb1cSzpPUBZp391Igvuq1Uy-EJFlK3yj4lFNc4bDLlj6jrKhKhzmGS-nxm2u5W1c0ozda/s1600/P1110235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKQdbBh-0FgjZ6a2JcCV3l3sKwENFkAkMZhb4j1SSdsuo5aK_PK4-fB3azvwL8_dfzxg5KIwqb1cSzpPUBZp391Igvuq1Uy-EJFlK3yj4lFNc4bDLlj6jrKhKhzmGS-nxm2u5W1c0ozda/s1600/P1110235.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our stockings!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILChmkrjIdxEYknVL0XlSwkt8S9TrDNDU8aRNSkUodPg8Z8U2nGMbHzcAGdeRs2J9KN4Rb3yEBV2T6nXvUonffnddYjk5jfZ0cilahePvwSYQh5_KIITWAwkYq3b2fFI19jASIjB4biiy/s1600/P1110238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILChmkrjIdxEYknVL0XlSwkt8S9TrDNDU8aRNSkUodPg8Z8U2nGMbHzcAGdeRs2J9KN4Rb3yEBV2T6nXvUonffnddYjk5jfZ0cilahePvwSYQh5_KIITWAwkYq3b2fFI19jASIjB4biiy/s1600/P1110238.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bible verse advent calenders</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6k-wcoBiJhXAcGChTUmWAFnz-hQwB1QfMPxn4xYo4iAT3H_D1QX-mY1hCkoVynw1qLB4UQVeRlBJAt6VCeufR9PTcbA3ZWTGDY_a-efksoKXpKsjKIvq_WZGZToMmoQyXqVTZ_TeM_xbT/s1600/P1110240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6k-wcoBiJhXAcGChTUmWAFnz-hQwB1QfMPxn4xYo4iAT3H_D1QX-mY1hCkoVynw1qLB4UQVeRlBJAt6VCeufR9PTcbA3ZWTGDY_a-efksoKXpKsjKIvq_WZGZToMmoQyXqVTZ_TeM_xbT/s1600/P1110240.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonas found Addy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qiIek8k0TtsFZtD5pkjwOcwbT5_H8AlRCB75akb7YobFKMfHZq15oC9-sVA7Q8ekj0AgY5zmHOu0Gf7IZvJwvrTUKV-jsLfxPGvSk95OOuxdnUKjvYfMnSd7UgVRzz6TI7enbieGxD7P/s1600/P1110242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qiIek8k0TtsFZtD5pkjwOcwbT5_H8AlRCB75akb7YobFKMfHZq15oC9-sVA7Q8ekj0AgY5zmHOu0Gf7IZvJwvrTUKV-jsLfxPGvSk95OOuxdnUKjvYfMnSd7UgVRzz6TI7enbieGxD7P/s1600/P1110242.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They loved Addy and his note!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZM1L9KW5rgspO0H49vrQt_KXGULw4WKJ2zWSqnSK92meDPZobp1uLXISg8Guqpk03Ua4RYIDx1ti6BD2ztSDeYnmFR7MT3KZXciafE4VFM-Q-p7r-Lp8D4JLwhN0FTewZywUoeHWEMTL/s1600/P1110243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZM1L9KW5rgspO0H49vrQt_KXGULw4WKJ2zWSqnSK92meDPZobp1uLXISg8Guqpk03Ua4RYIDx1ti6BD2ztSDeYnmFR7MT3KZXciafE4VFM-Q-p7r-Lp8D4JLwhN0FTewZywUoeHWEMTL/s1600/P1110243.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyegjIihSw6GbUEexvxo8F5maBQ9vHMgBXnvdD1MqJn9BT2H5M3_IhDKIAAY79BSuW6dpFlagee__p2a-3DMI0mYCGS02AyPzSaCahECI6-wZ76UKAWuGJuJIuJLXMaVRLES6Wam8g_QS/s1600/P1110244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyegjIihSw6GbUEexvxo8F5maBQ9vHMgBXnvdD1MqJn9BT2H5M3_IhDKIAAY79BSuW6dpFlagee__p2a-3DMI0mYCGS02AyPzSaCahECI6-wZ76UKAWuGJuJIuJLXMaVRLES6Wam8g_QS/s1600/P1110244.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXJOi3E_ODRpmp3bpVsdCd9uBvnquR2sTAEsPg4HeXUTEuXsNk80_6qHGMpK_GNJPjTstc7SyIHtQxjBGaKD7PqudFp_g_OlnTF5M9Og1zQY634qVBha4lWgF2KrR4JdWV54IJ_3XWyjE/s1600/P1110245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXJOi3E_ODRpmp3bpVsdCd9uBvnquR2sTAEsPg4HeXUTEuXsNk80_6qHGMpK_GNJPjTstc7SyIHtQxjBGaKD7PqudFp_g_OlnTF5M9Og1zQY634qVBha4lWgF2KrR4JdWV54IJ_3XWyjE/s1600/P1110245.JPG" width="372" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clearly for Brynna chocolate was the best part!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09095598329895472755noreply@blogger.com5Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA37.2424206 -76.66437280000002437.0401831 -76.987096300000019 37.444658100000005 -76.341649300000029tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-47365689399464540282014-04-29T15:08:00.000-04:002014-04-30T14:57:49.138-04:00A Happy Thought <div align="”right”">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqN4qT-awQIW8YtpMFnnhEADQHJMPY018UPl6TncaO3pF-OXlunjKdvmm_9QMtZy0AnX9LqrqW45YXiHvGjn4w6RWvFRejpfbzK8Go2iL0YXKoE0o_LudHq3eJir0bTQuoNbChlNhGO-TU/s1600/1-P1100769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqN4qT-awQIW8YtpMFnnhEADQHJMPY018UPl6TncaO3pF-OXlunjKdvmm_9QMtZy0AnX9LqrqW45YXiHvGjn4w6RWvFRejpfbzK8Go2iL0YXKoE0o_LudHq3eJir0bTQuoNbChlNhGO-TU/s1600/1-P1100769.JPG" height="600" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>A Happy Thought</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The world is so full</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>of a number of things, </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>I'm sure we should all</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>be happy as kings.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>-Robert Louis Stevenson from "A Child's Garden of Verses"</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5xPuT6i975RYqyH_ic2ZxmlXqmq1hXATLP6-0UEEF2i5Li_RelKCgpAXkyG4oqGLSfUuz2S5GhfrXTN1zednZl5HmUBmQjaJHsSPAaNAZieWVix6GXn38EfY2hoDdxmju4ELZU4J-FW-/s1600/1-P1100767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5xPuT6i975RYqyH_ic2ZxmlXqmq1hXATLP6-0UEEF2i5Li_RelKCgpAXkyG4oqGLSfUuz2S5GhfrXTN1zednZl5HmUBmQjaJHsSPAaNAZieWVix6GXn38EfY2hoDdxmju4ELZU4J-FW-/s1600/1-P1100767.JPG" height="620" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have taken a bit of a respite from this place. Honestly, not for any reason in particular! I have just been so busy and alternatively our lives have been changing so much. We have been trying to figure out a new family rhythm. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
With Deirdre now in school, our days look different. Now with my return to work soon, as well as having a temporary job on the weekends, it has been a bit up and down. However, we still have been making the most of it and figuring out all of these changes together. Us four, we're a little team to be sure. It has amazed me how well they all have been doing through this. It is a blessing for sure. All of them are growing in news ways. And it has reminded me of what an honor and privilege it is to be their mother. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Mostly, I find myself filled with divine gratitude. Gratitude for having my children in my life. Gratitude for my family, who has loved us so well through this. Gratitude for my friends, whom are also my family and who I get to raise my children alongside with. Gratitude for my education, which at times I have taken for granted. And gratitude for Waldorf, because that lynchpin in our lives has helped keep me steady- and my mothering steady- which in turn has helped me love my children well. It almost seems like a buffer of sorts, a sense of stability in my home. I can't quite name it. <i>But it is there. </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I also continue to be in awe of the beauty that surrounds us. Maybe I appreciate it more now or maybe I see it more clearly, but I feel like someone has turned up the saturation in my eyes. Life is just <i>brighter</i>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My children have not been the only ones who have been growing. I have too. For once, in a long time, I have had time for myself. I have been doing things for just me. Beautiful yet simple things. And that feels good. My soul feels refreshed and I have a renewed sense of purpose, that I thought I died to a long time ago. It feels good to be alive again in that way. Which all brings me back to gratitude for the people the universe has conspired to put in my life and help me rekindle that. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So I will leave you all now with a bit of 'catch up' for what we've been up to. We've celebrated 2 birthdays, MANY festivals, taken trips, and had lots of beach and crafting fun. Enjoy my sweet friends. And I will be back soon. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSctz_y52Jfn69v2At40ROnbAnaxXmZs-4N8-QZ-DZ0FFU2LpJZCzE7DvtGMowS2EFbbm7pKE7iC_Oz8dCdYa1PqdR53ylUwjddhhrVVs_pfo5zv0P9jtdtWDkojfoCTuHPrdobGtE5hFV/s1600/1-P1100344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSctz_y52Jfn69v2At40ROnbAnaxXmZs-4N8-QZ-DZ0FFU2LpJZCzE7DvtGMowS2EFbbm7pKE7iC_Oz8dCdYa1PqdR53ylUwjddhhrVVs_pfo5zv0P9jtdtWDkojfoCTuHPrdobGtE5hFV/s1600/1-P1100344.JPG" height="384" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kyY8jdaAq2cfjQCqhQwYP8A4cPRf2M-1h34-7pMCdlH0yS5gT2f-iIDNTDiy1msBtmNeR7OByoEJw3cf_24-bR9ib_KdbICGp2HOpWRj66E3OK4vHrwBE5Hj_Ur-c-WT_9qwZJBX6LtW/s1600/1-P1100538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kyY8jdaAq2cfjQCqhQwYP8A4cPRf2M-1h34-7pMCdlH0yS5gT2f-iIDNTDiy1msBtmNeR7OByoEJw3cf_24-bR9ib_KdbICGp2HOpWRj66E3OK4vHrwBE5Hj_Ur-c-WT_9qwZJBX6LtW/s1600/1-P1100538.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlB_06MXXVTE2qjNygtxPiUU5hms3CzPjJA9eivZK9I0LBJIRx9JRQoYSlubZDSfliGdDQinBRtJRqHWoIBBoBTwOGriaXiCJRfddeRkDcrAb1MMuzWVcmhYQ3Nis5ojn20vr2uBwsZVE/s1600/1-P1100562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlB_06MXXVTE2qjNygtxPiUU5hms3CzPjJA9eivZK9I0LBJIRx9JRQoYSlubZDSfliGdDQinBRtJRqHWoIBBoBTwOGriaXiCJRfddeRkDcrAb1MMuzWVcmhYQ3Nis5ojn20vr2uBwsZVE/s1600/1-P1100562.JPG" height="548" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brynna is getting so so big! She loves to play at the Yorktown battlefields. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3URTBbV9hdVWZrh_3qaKIpCoagRs1L8DuMTXwxGxp7uOmmAx4hsg_xkvhzYvWvyLzWJItJeWJiabk36pfUSqMQivFyW4iWVP_yOdD5YpjKHwYjmLFS2s5z0By7Ez4d3saXlnB0HUACl53/s1600/1-P1100576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3URTBbV9hdVWZrh_3qaKIpCoagRs1L8DuMTXwxGxp7uOmmAx4hsg_xkvhzYvWvyLzWJItJeWJiabk36pfUSqMQivFyW4iWVP_yOdD5YpjKHwYjmLFS2s5z0By7Ez4d3saXlnB0HUACl53/s1600/1-P1100576.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Secret Places</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXb8AhUpa5s6YpuF7erKlHJ__FfI4mWRZcNOcb_MrHBOvoLcJJxAgVosZmXtLQqDhyphenhyphenxQJrcoJ8JOQ9QRUu27uEJIaDTYJlDonrItGVucb26su1O1uTGarztq8anxOkiqo5lJYDW1S-wdcP/s1600/1-P1100609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXb8AhUpa5s6YpuF7erKlHJ__FfI4mWRZcNOcb_MrHBOvoLcJJxAgVosZmXtLQqDhyphenhyphenxQJrcoJ8JOQ9QRUu27uEJIaDTYJlDonrItGVucb26su1O1uTGarztq8anxOkiqo5lJYDW1S-wdcP/s1600/1-P1100609.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZCcbaDooeNC9DuXx52_iR7YkGVgh82GA8j50hymSDUpkx5aXKRDfblh61tCH7ZcoyTbA15pe0Vqd1bt1CZxvq9vvNa2GE2eLmhJigIi5St3g-LVYLuV3wgG35y2vtR6PKxIroFU1xytF/s1600/1-P1100278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZCcbaDooeNC9DuXx52_iR7YkGVgh82GA8j50hymSDUpkx5aXKRDfblh61tCH7ZcoyTbA15pe0Vqd1bt1CZxvq9vvNa2GE2eLmhJigIi5St3g-LVYLuV3wgG35y2vtR6PKxIroFU1xytF/s1600/1-P1100278.JPG" height="546" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonas turned 4! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWsZWoXg5YjhH71KS1K7zOoRHVGz9lERRCvZTILHD0ssON4Y5E3kB-4FyCjq1vyYsbE1vaQnitl2EZu99sPukYzA2r1j9DEbjamQ_uSU61TNIMslG-i4VVNyUfq83fAXlpghaOz27zjrb/s1600/1-P1100668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWsZWoXg5YjhH71KS1K7zOoRHVGz9lERRCvZTILHD0ssON4Y5E3kB-4FyCjq1vyYsbE1vaQnitl2EZu99sPukYzA2r1j9DEbjamQ_uSU61TNIMslG-i4VVNyUfq83fAXlpghaOz27zjrb/s1600/1-P1100668.JPG" height="554" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brynna turned 2! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinG2Fl-i3-Aysgq9vu29Si0ikK3ae-FqMBGHifjj_KiO2Ugux7qt3HWFsnVUuFWOcGLzrhDnc5Bs66-OXj7ByOeYLn48R5boC82oKHrWei6_9oscSPW4pMJFE6qO3dC3GbmmFiJcQlT6xP/s1600/1-P1100729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinG2Fl-i3-Aysgq9vu29Si0ikK3ae-FqMBGHifjj_KiO2Ugux7qt3HWFsnVUuFWOcGLzrhDnc5Bs66-OXj7ByOeYLn48R5boC82oKHrWei6_9oscSPW4pMJFE6qO3dC3GbmmFiJcQlT6xP/s1600/1-P1100729.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worm trap made by Jonas. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FbEkD8IHiQxX2tgkcE0HTVzQrm5rj6YKfql4us_iIIw5bwoS6h4KxOrevFsUWb5sCo8tWvTGbx9XzCKvFhLWA3-zgzl3SeDfMUriJe8H9Vmn3tT9fALHVCcFvaPj7Z71F_NjNO02Ga8-/s1600/1-P1100754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FbEkD8IHiQxX2tgkcE0HTVzQrm5rj6YKfql4us_iIIw5bwoS6h4KxOrevFsUWb5sCo8tWvTGbx9XzCKvFhLWA3-zgzl3SeDfMUriJe8H9Vmn3tT9fALHVCcFvaPj7Z71F_NjNO02Ga8-/s1600/1-P1100754.JPG" height="490" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yorktown Pirate Day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjppMrQScsHTgKZ8HINaSysgBdwor3xU4EuZLWYefuep67_ApGzi526kJLzI-dmsZMlw_MQC8P92TC7EuPohRhIdQ2rk7ISDac6R34yEocsDbcbw0IrbXgxbTePQGwm_IN1O-WFdBXH7hV/s1600/1-P1100760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjppMrQScsHTgKZ8HINaSysgBdwor3xU4EuZLWYefuep67_ApGzi526kJLzI-dmsZMlw_MQC8P92TC7EuPohRhIdQ2rk7ISDac6R34yEocsDbcbw0IrbXgxbTePQGwm_IN1O-WFdBXH7hV/s1600/1-P1100760.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvsc1m89x4G-x8gW17lwocLpGRJDJd01NCP_INMdYLYrrx5EjClyXTInhZ6ugMucmqmK0LOA8bJFulgzLJhdPh2GTD9cjyvzpSvDxy5veBzv5qzgP-CqOTgwdzdA9tTu52nufwh5L3XpR/s1600/2-P1100770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvsc1m89x4G-x8gW17lwocLpGRJDJd01NCP_INMdYLYrrx5EjClyXTInhZ6ugMucmqmK0LOA8bJFulgzLJhdPh2GTD9cjyvzpSvDxy5veBzv5qzgP-CqOTgwdzdA9tTu52nufwh5L3XpR/s1600/2-P1100770.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter Eggs :) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPk3sdxH85CxiuUbVERvN7XL6u0bMbWvwmgr1rDs8l_1cPP53EVQrorIFlS42Sr29sm4JuVNwRVnDdjB1qmXrxBJuz19PneNrJBe6e_YCts-1qYotIDS7FrVXH3PplqTfZ8oY7_t5sMUpv/s1600/3-P1100771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPk3sdxH85CxiuUbVERvN7XL6u0bMbWvwmgr1rDs8l_1cPP53EVQrorIFlS42Sr29sm4JuVNwRVnDdjB1qmXrxBJuz19PneNrJBe6e_YCts-1qYotIDS7FrVXH3PplqTfZ8oY7_t5sMUpv/s1600/3-P1100771.JPG" height="384" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of our garden! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxy9YPin7gIF8dlNsKZm2Rz8LGg-4uDifk6sVVICVdoSy94_GFfCVhfQ3EJEYS3AytzAUdwfqM2Qm50q5zeB-hWw_Qc-qW5TxWBlRe3M4Dm8t9vyZwSgjWFZ7jDlTyiDaCJoIETeEbMP8/s1600/1-P1100386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxy9YPin7gIF8dlNsKZm2Rz8LGg-4uDifk6sVVICVdoSy94_GFfCVhfQ3EJEYS3AytzAUdwfqM2Qm50q5zeB-hWw_Qc-qW5TxWBlRe3M4Dm8t9vyZwSgjWFZ7jDlTyiDaCJoIETeEbMP8/s1600/1-P1100386.JPG" height="520" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbwYjDyXXWZTvNT7SZ0HqmJI7UUftoAGzUi_c9qwdbUOwQhNA5ugSn536M5Uel7hSf046VEIDWIjL5wJxebVCtjMtV6BcU6cEmLVZVqPhREzzAu0G75eOnBzE2vjAko4lu8LP9KxX_xdu/s1600/1-P1100395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbwYjDyXXWZTvNT7SZ0HqmJI7UUftoAGzUi_c9qwdbUOwQhNA5ugSn536M5Uel7hSf046VEIDWIjL5wJxebVCtjMtV6BcU6cEmLVZVqPhREzzAu0G75eOnBzE2vjAko4lu8LP9KxX_xdu/s1600/1-P1100395.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yorktown Beach! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eFQVl94OGVJnXhfITe7NlesGStbuFt8vlPtNh5enBZWjxVCrNuxkhJ7niMMDGDspVQZhdpBeAdS7xEs0k-yHaEgsV5hubPsvBN511yH1L-t29-2wA84qnFSKaYCoK07AfNsFgVZOCeLW/s1600/1-P1100423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eFQVl94OGVJnXhfITe7NlesGStbuFt8vlPtNh5enBZWjxVCrNuxkhJ7niMMDGDspVQZhdpBeAdS7xEs0k-yHaEgsV5hubPsvBN511yH1L-t29-2wA84qnFSKaYCoK07AfNsFgVZOCeLW/s1600/1-P1100423.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our trip to Richmond to visit Link and her family as well as the VMFA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2159623148345695836" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWV8IScm5nSunyXIKEV5WdexNwGcNeLo_8enMxO0Lu0ShJymnziwO9J0soywR5TmeoMRmzqoF8ykwWAfOzFj5Rn-wqmRNSkqCLiXkC-L2gV0QU7mL9m6dkFtBsAV79pn86XjhaXM4Qh7X/s1600/1-P1100454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWV8IScm5nSunyXIKEV5WdexNwGcNeLo_8enMxO0Lu0ShJymnziwO9J0soywR5TmeoMRmzqoF8ykwWAfOzFj5Rn-wqmRNSkqCLiXkC-L2gV0QU7mL9m6dkFtBsAV79pn86XjhaXM4Qh7X/s1600/1-P1100454.JPG" height="430" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1sjX9FmK74nYgoXIQmHVLe3YBDHnryR4uLDrfrmntGIXY1EeEw1uRNeBXmaYllyO2XOCybT-N3t7n8Mztct_UVhmZH-jJGpXVc34kX1twlV0qrgt1Kkl5LQ-Dx8hchgtFP6Mid5rzLJy/s1600/1-P1100452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1sjX9FmK74nYgoXIQmHVLe3YBDHnryR4uLDrfrmntGIXY1EeEw1uRNeBXmaYllyO2XOCybT-N3t7n8Mztct_UVhmZH-jJGpXVc34kX1twlV0qrgt1Kkl5LQ-Dx8hchgtFP6Mid5rzLJy/s1600/1-P1100452.JPG" height="460" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrove Tuesday</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9a5uPlda-Fc8pAtYApSyn4hGia197VTIb160WAEWBW5gKGtjv64KKUYvy8aPajDMn_u1S9ZGdCVz1B19celf2v-vFKWz3ySHlLYUnVxJKuXQnbRuhKKtHs6OPYg2p7KhUD8cnRQzYGx6w/s1600/1-P1100256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9a5uPlda-Fc8pAtYApSyn4hGia197VTIb160WAEWBW5gKGtjv64KKUYvy8aPajDMn_u1S9ZGdCVz1B19celf2v-vFKWz3ySHlLYUnVxJKuXQnbRuhKKtHs6OPYg2p7KhUD8cnRQzYGx6w/s1600/1-P1100256.JPG" height="640" width="580" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imbolc pots! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjub6t93vZj0_qcq5G2CGUznTv80z2eSlKYFH7WXHZ89oirKWiW5wrpyzqDQX3DaP5b1Ep7iNoAoZ8tSuwbG9RvLfQJPTpUExw5T98eEVchpGkdS_ceys_9mFYtfTwDySCD5dtVp__v4EiV/s1600/1-P1100264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjub6t93vZj0_qcq5G2CGUznTv80z2eSlKYFH7WXHZ89oirKWiW5wrpyzqDQX3DaP5b1Ep7iNoAoZ8tSuwbG9RvLfQJPTpUExw5T98eEVchpGkdS_ceys_9mFYtfTwDySCD5dtVp__v4EiV/s1600/1-P1100264.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green for Spring! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLBygTGXBZ0H-j3hFHu4cxwRfDiPYjvPYUv85As8gv5bYe2_ESRfbTh1cx7FHkEPYvAMAxV4cFfudX9rbXw-9_RcfOHY2KRN_1VjsUGeducF08DYIAiymK4iM9iJIA0JDvprQ_NdWMWpG/s1600/1-P1100511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLBygTGXBZ0H-j3hFHu4cxwRfDiPYjvPYUv85As8gv5bYe2_ESRfbTh1cx7FHkEPYvAMAxV4cFfudX9rbXw-9_RcfOHY2KRN_1VjsUGeducF08DYIAiymK4iM9iJIA0JDvprQ_NdWMWpG/s1600/1-P1100511.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day trip to Surry to their Farm Museum. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMOEjtZs0DdJhesEK9T86Vpj3R0z5NtoxV6023HDTLuE4ij7VMjln0ogZpnHN7nJ7JpiINNYguDLkLT0yq8Qxrxdbg3G8ejSJka4dwa2sHnnHerDNUS9nFM6-BUEXOgiRKKBFfOGfPAT5/s1600/1-P1100319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMOEjtZs0DdJhesEK9T86Vpj3R0z5NtoxV6023HDTLuE4ij7VMjln0ogZpnHN7nJ7JpiINNYguDLkLT0yq8Qxrxdbg3G8ejSJka4dwa2sHnnHerDNUS9nFM6-BUEXOgiRKKBFfOGfPAT5/s1600/1-P1100319.JPG" height="510" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our last days homeschooling. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>PS: Linking up for the lovely Nicole at Frontier Dreams for <a href="http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/2014/04/keep-calm-craft-on-crafting-on_29.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">KCCO</a>! </b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Love and Light,</b></i></div>
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09095598329895472755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-62001906423172951392014-02-06T20:06:00.001-05:002014-02-06T20:06:07.155-05:00A little red string<div align="”right”">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iQTzJSzgqfelBnwk3rsJhxEOEZ9GlLxG12uVjlTZxr112AL0qR16fg_L7wEihZW9M9jYaUIXwrnl48qgKhf0JPlWSUUE3gGg6jeM1hQMwK6rV0KLH3cEjvy6dteSsckuKPzQU607cz0Y/s1600/07-P1100185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iQTzJSzgqfelBnwk3rsJhxEOEZ9GlLxG12uVjlTZxr112AL0qR16fg_L7wEihZW9M9jYaUIXwrnl48qgKhf0JPlWSUUE3gGg6jeM1hQMwK6rV0KLH3cEjvy6dteSsckuKPzQU607cz0Y/s1600/07-P1100185.JPG" height="632" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEAXZr3pE0ceNOvGhe1AtzMCmFgYCJ34C7NVVItCv6JSOVKhhVad54GapGYwaGZ1GjPDLX5csRXlhMdD0U8QXSg_ZpiiY1mrV3pks3DflqLIvOe1SZZnYtv8vkj-vBkT-r41cBkY2qsrP/s1600/red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEAXZr3pE0ceNOvGhe1AtzMCmFgYCJ34C7NVVItCv6JSOVKhhVad54GapGYwaGZ1GjPDLX5csRXlhMdD0U8QXSg_ZpiiY1mrV3pks3DflqLIvOe1SZZnYtv8vkj-vBkT-r41cBkY2qsrP/s1600/red.jpg" height="256" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXzV4rEGPyNiegN7Y_wE1Q1jGXlSdUY6IOct0-UeUDlgrLNEoGua-MjztTAvq2PFhdqeIISC17u65t-AsrJCqi0d06SJm2dgVjvUTgmt833m8rgGbyvv3_Uq7NhhVLKxVWd5IbrUd_jyz/s1600/01-P1100176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXzV4rEGPyNiegN7Y_wE1Q1jGXlSdUY6IOct0-UeUDlgrLNEoGua-MjztTAvq2PFhdqeIISC17u65t-AsrJCqi0d06SJm2dgVjvUTgmt833m8rgGbyvv3_Uq7NhhVLKxVWd5IbrUd_jyz/s1600/01-P1100176.JPG" height="420" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMwKpF_Yofj4Da_bS7v3AtoVGAIZyZ2J0q1RFGHWT0nzaV2slhNGoSzhsqoI5ayQsG4TXZPG569UgG7VlP_BwUUFeprUKwkURSJFRDd2wEYfCBxfD3IMJNYz3cJ12okRFBfKDUEYTWywA/s1600/04-P1100181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMwKpF_Yofj4Da_bS7v3AtoVGAIZyZ2J0q1RFGHWT0nzaV2slhNGoSzhsqoI5ayQsG4TXZPG569UgG7VlP_BwUUFeprUKwkURSJFRDd2wEYfCBxfD3IMJNYz3cJ12okRFBfKDUEYTWywA/s1600/04-P1100181.JPG" height="430" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0pIDD9mi36mVXzEAjTuIep6hbF0QGn1nRcbnMsQj10rx0ySPtTjCMqpb20zLZqbPEe9HPPlxAzTrvAY-aiyhHxBXGWxWftwnAuE4KkyIywDHvYuYHEQUSNGGrD9ce6bHsricXmAnnbpW/s1600/06-P1100184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0pIDD9mi36mVXzEAjTuIep6hbF0QGn1nRcbnMsQj10rx0ySPtTjCMqpb20zLZqbPEe9HPPlxAzTrvAY-aiyhHxBXGWxWftwnAuE4KkyIywDHvYuYHEQUSNGGrD9ce6bHsricXmAnnbpW/s1600/06-P1100184.JPG" height="630" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh052_V3O6WIeNe9zYbilA06CZH5G9NCQUvJFYJ2rFLQAKGE7ppZejKprPILdcAkGCMUVPQYLpTDVwQNEc3OThwvRSQoDo6MRAwTluhAQvkMEM8z2TL28JRgMuMRx7_r7LBOehHiEEpbs1s/s1600/08-P1100186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh052_V3O6WIeNe9zYbilA06CZH5G9NCQUvJFYJ2rFLQAKGE7ppZejKprPILdcAkGCMUVPQYLpTDVwQNEc3OThwvRSQoDo6MRAwTluhAQvkMEM8z2TL28JRgMuMRx7_r7LBOehHiEEpbs1s/s1600/08-P1100186.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Last week the little people and I got to go spend some time with two of my very closest friends, Lila and Anya. Both of them moved this past summer *sob* so we're further apart now and visits are a treat! The bulk of our time was with Anya outside of DC, but halfway in between her house and mine, is Lila's Homestead. As you can see we all had a blast there. I wish I could just move in. It made me miss our animals. Her home is one of those special places that you just palpably feel enveloped by love and good vibes when you walk in.<i> It's a special place</i>. Not to mention, her sweet little one has a special place in my heart. I am hoping I can be his adopted auntie since I <i>LOVE</i> him so.<br />
<br />
After our respite with Lila, we headed north to DC to stay with Anya. I don't quite think I can put into words just how special my friendship is with her. Soul sisters I think is a good way to describe it. Not to mention, our kids are all best friends and the same ages, ha! The way we met and the way our friendship has developed, and continues to grow, just sorta blows me away. It's kinda hard to argue that fate doesn't exists with friends like the ones I have. On my dark days, clinging to those undeniable links in my life have helped tremendously. But I digress!<br />
<br />
DC was great. It was busy, crazy, and wild with 6 kids between us and 3 adults. At one point all 3 of my kids were sleeping on top of me. But oh how numbered my days of this are. I can take it. Being with Anya, who has literally walked me through all my dark hard times over the past 16 months, was a good reminder of how far I have come, how strong I am, what I truly want out of life, and that I got <i>this</i>.<br />
<br />
I won't lie though. I am going on 2 months of this single parent gig and it's intense. Like non-stop overhead sets. Bam. Right now I am sorta glad I did have my kids young because I can still jump out of bed at 3am and run downstairs because Brynna ripped her diaper off again. Or play wrestle and subdue all 3 of them and then pop up to make dinner. Or take all of them on a roadtrip and keep my cool amid the "she's looking funny at me again, MOMMY"!<br />
<br />
"Seriously guys? Deep breaths and look out the window!!" PHEW!<br />
<br />
But being in this better place where I am right now is so good for my soul. I feel alive and connected to myself and my life again, versus mostly going through the motions and treading water. Things just seem brighter. More vivid. It's kinda crazy really.<br />
<br />
Being on call with the kids 24/7 is intense, but for me it's better to actually be physically and emotionally alone in this than to be with someone and still be alone. And for me there is a peace in that. A deep sense of contentment and warmth right in the <i>center</i> on my being.<br />
<br />
A lot of things that happened in my past have been coming to mind of late, things I did not quite understand at the time. All of which seem to have been growing and equipping me for this current stint in my journey. I love being able to connect the dots right now, as much as it also hurts.<br />
<br />
So yeah, I got this.<br />
<br />
I'll see you all on the other side :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQK3eDclZV2KpYDJhvo2QLmzjZUIDl-_coPLKdP41WMEPtPNXQp4M4suaTA28c-kvarrBsHk8-48BODZ4bTgnd657MSJZEyFNPm6haljNbUigLXvukgLx5nPGM03AfVklqfF8OdcNEpI8/s1600/13-P1100192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQK3eDclZV2KpYDJhvo2QLmzjZUIDl-_coPLKdP41WMEPtPNXQp4M4suaTA28c-kvarrBsHk8-48BODZ4bTgnd657MSJZEyFNPm6haljNbUigLXvukgLx5nPGM03AfVklqfF8OdcNEpI8/s1600/13-P1100192.JPG" height="640" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VW2NacIYq4oXD_CYakHR6THK9ze1qs-9NJZNdkijLeTkX_Yfr_Z9BpYC-pDcvgDIqTr2lmA9bI2XRgEnNdiNm108re2Fm2CHD0p_VApp6m1Eny7hQxjeVPUXXs3SilL3e49QD9hcWDpS/s1600/15-P1100196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VW2NacIYq4oXD_CYakHR6THK9ze1qs-9NJZNdkijLeTkX_Yfr_Z9BpYC-pDcvgDIqTr2lmA9bI2XRgEnNdiNm108re2Fm2CHD0p_VApp6m1Eny7hQxjeVPUXXs3SilL3e49QD9hcWDpS/s1600/15-P1100196.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5whC8IorzdlckixKvuflugJn49C3M5gwgJVktFv2RRICjDxsG9I2QaEkdrGnfnxoA3JElXu923A4xYwtW6eL3RhqKZ9mAJr6rRQtY22azCNDdZkfl6furk1G4IBZ_kIqt6fVFHTkGXmHL/s1600/17-P1100199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5whC8IorzdlckixKvuflugJn49C3M5gwgJVktFv2RRICjDxsG9I2QaEkdrGnfnxoA3JElXu923A4xYwtW6eL3RhqKZ9mAJr6rRQtY22azCNDdZkfl6furk1G4IBZ_kIqt6fVFHTkGXmHL/s1600/17-P1100199.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yRKdo92v_2bHdiVUJWI6i1CoZIFAPP2niBa5AYixJmyiAcksIHymLl4-2DQU5aGetGYLYT4zdlIKZPYMqTRjCMNPRw-WJa5aW7xgD-kkJ2dVTYOazdiF9di9REEAJCLdtwDomtOv0tEm/s1600/22-P1100204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yRKdo92v_2bHdiVUJWI6i1CoZIFAPP2niBa5AYixJmyiAcksIHymLl4-2DQU5aGetGYLYT4zdlIKZPYMqTRjCMNPRw-WJa5aW7xgD-kkJ2dVTYOazdiF9di9REEAJCLdtwDomtOv0tEm/s1600/22-P1100204.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCol6YDk4hPVgA8BMhY22qmwMFRGBKk6OXQ3doZmSeoBpkJaRnku46_-AZ4mE-km90Hb7u_su017U4UO3jE9hdC84XYFx8DQCAiDrXV4j_TWhJ-W9NrYOUya9Nw_pRclCs_SuCo2AuizKj/s1600/26-P1100210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCol6YDk4hPVgA8BMhY22qmwMFRGBKk6OXQ3doZmSeoBpkJaRnku46_-AZ4mE-km90Hb7u_su017U4UO3jE9hdC84XYFx8DQCAiDrXV4j_TWhJ-W9NrYOUya9Nw_pRclCs_SuCo2AuizKj/s1600/26-P1100210.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfox6PHKeVvi5SwuxxYo3sTJcK9IyWOVGLjAUJUN29Dg4IbSMQu-ZsNz3jxtWZKiERu1A2_mlFs9vcxpj0DU6tygFw_raZRALOAjwRnpXRdIAKnjetEwiwD-abCJSCTuebpdm6Zj0cX84/s1600/27-P1100211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfox6PHKeVvi5SwuxxYo3sTJcK9IyWOVGLjAUJUN29Dg4IbSMQu-ZsNz3jxtWZKiERu1A2_mlFs9vcxpj0DU6tygFw_raZRALOAjwRnpXRdIAKnjetEwiwD-abCJSCTuebpdm6Zj0cX84/s1600/27-P1100211.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruc9nNUvHJQj78v3L1wINK41eh1zOAwE5FiaFhWufZo8pytJxhPe0y6UwciHOo8HQ3B8r10OJ0JIE0_iiQEaSvxep8qCN2Ve-KZr1fAzFCFxUgTXuHLpdQ7t840yPJQAXlik_hWIx47yY/s1600/29-P1100214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruc9nNUvHJQj78v3L1wINK41eh1zOAwE5FiaFhWufZo8pytJxhPe0y6UwciHOo8HQ3B8r10OJ0JIE0_iiQEaSvxep8qCN2Ve-KZr1fAzFCFxUgTXuHLpdQ7t840yPJQAXlik_hWIx47yY/s1600/29-P1100214.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxlb2kJUMLzoW5NsWUfn-d-BcbnZEO99FDVWNqByv8MvhFMIoH_5S597zpJXydhHF5Eec79z0jHm3omWKcchCbVkx2cNZnbWRol7J0nx0RYR6hGljH5vPoMzfOH-URQqNWc1ea9F-6Sa_/s1600/36-P1100225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxlb2kJUMLzoW5NsWUfn-d-BcbnZEO99FDVWNqByv8MvhFMIoH_5S597zpJXydhHF5Eec79z0jHm3omWKcchCbVkx2cNZnbWRol7J0nx0RYR6hGljH5vPoMzfOH-URQqNWc1ea9F-6Sa_/s1600/36-P1100225.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGBuiCuAj72NprAV9r48rxhg9emEDxVYeGUGIgRf5nYrRYIe3MseyV5FN-T0NgJ_EUWLQNK2OMntTU_XvxJkEMoE49dehz3g1voO8_774_Kf-PivptFK681eesOytIGPBouI7iVWRBnB9/s1600/37-P1100227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGBuiCuAj72NprAV9r48rxhg9emEDxVYeGUGIgRf5nYrRYIe3MseyV5FN-T0NgJ_EUWLQNK2OMntTU_XvxJkEMoE49dehz3g1voO8_774_Kf-PivptFK681eesOytIGPBouI7iVWRBnB9/s1600/37-P1100227.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sharky boy who is about to be 4! Ah!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EgaqzW4X72oXOM9wsqPg8aStrnIm-7b1Ge5Pat9tIqgyi1jcnNIpnxq-ispOATN8DcozBXvSuXDgKE5sXAzr8pD1dK9Bugg0burVX2eaeQdJ0eFHAeRy7CHrVS0gNScORFhu82Z9EP1u/s1600/54-P1100246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EgaqzW4X72oXOM9wsqPg8aStrnIm-7b1Ge5Pat9tIqgyi1jcnNIpnxq-ispOATN8DcozBXvSuXDgKE5sXAzr8pD1dK9Bugg0burVX2eaeQdJ0eFHAeRy7CHrVS0gNScORFhu82Z9EP1u/s1600/54-P1100246.JPG" height="640" width="608" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A male Cooper's hawk right in downtown DC! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ix6kuVa2M3Qvo-h3-e48mFgDRNnKIpAWaITTZO344J3ei7RYGlI_RnT72WmzvxEmQt81Yoqfu9PS6ILtdrFlgSmHjcQEGvPsHE80DACdsqX__QqCsqmlJqrl0e4mc4Dy1SBeU5Nm3xGg/s1600/55-P1100247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ix6kuVa2M3Qvo-h3-e48mFgDRNnKIpAWaITTZO344J3ei7RYGlI_RnT72WmzvxEmQt81Yoqfu9PS6ILtdrFlgSmHjcQEGvPsHE80DACdsqX__QqCsqmlJqrl0e4mc4Dy1SBeU5Nm3xGg/s1600/55-P1100247.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Love & Light,</div>
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09095598329895472755noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-22177432123815593342014-01-25T20:44:00.000-05:002014-01-25T20:44:07.748-05:00At Last! <div align="”right”">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMjUkSeW1itS3dFlChDIYpT7Vd96vwW7apkKZk2J93FWDJ72mM5zEc-fgN_ekMeaZunRh455eEhJPz90Ylq20g-0gNpklZJzpBvkK6jmgEJQsIggx0Y6I5TMlsLrEIe30lfWKYaYwNmp5/s1600/01-P1100134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMjUkSeW1itS3dFlChDIYpT7Vd96vwW7apkKZk2J93FWDJ72mM5zEc-fgN_ekMeaZunRh455eEhJPz90Ylq20g-0gNpklZJzpBvkK6jmgEJQsIggx0Y6I5TMlsLrEIe30lfWKYaYwNmp5/s1600/01-P1100134.JPG" height="640" width="604" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xQeB9C8ojDwUbGdLKk4-SYSEiPJlxC6rrfozNxghmT8_xlUQqCwGOMKNw-viRc5FP00ltqH62WjVi-fWw_JumzcE26V-y7XN-__IEOCxKXz8miU7EosCY8ms293KnyikulpPk9yqxVOh/s1600/02-P1100135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xQeB9C8ojDwUbGdLKk4-SYSEiPJlxC6rrfozNxghmT8_xlUQqCwGOMKNw-viRc5FP00ltqH62WjVi-fWw_JumzcE26V-y7XN-__IEOCxKXz8miU7EosCY8ms293KnyikulpPk9yqxVOh/s1600/02-P1100135.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AXrfGIzEfXrueMjirG3rriA2l452EDa6JMJOYZNA0xOBoEhEcliCLDnfv-i-w9PUIFXeBEcwMec7B2g3O4sNk1is6aamy-Y6izDM8MSlVlmVjrk-kfC9eFeanNV5S8QGFG0pfxN10G49/s1600/05-P1100138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AXrfGIzEfXrueMjirG3rriA2l452EDa6JMJOYZNA0xOBoEhEcliCLDnfv-i-w9PUIFXeBEcwMec7B2g3O4sNk1is6aamy-Y6izDM8MSlVlmVjrk-kfC9eFeanNV5S8QGFG0pfxN10G49/s1600/05-P1100138.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJ1TJfcVU77qCiJmz1lmQg-KeJ9teeSnIQoSPMTxo_9Vbg3anUKzZyhcGalfRLRZAzjDYeP_EYmXmbfV3wzo5Jt2KDdAEm1lfSnk4EbHej3xwhk5sdIsXqwUmlaU2MOJPh6tAitUEv_ro/s1600/07-P1100142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJ1TJfcVU77qCiJmz1lmQg-KeJ9teeSnIQoSPMTxo_9Vbg3anUKzZyhcGalfRLRZAzjDYeP_EYmXmbfV3wzo5Jt2KDdAEm1lfSnk4EbHej3xwhk5sdIsXqwUmlaU2MOJPh6tAitUEv_ro/s1600/07-P1100142.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsfCgG4uaheYv3NfQdzHun-L6CAaOJ3nwVC_sQJyb2TFxR8XBtlDIjFL4QRb4HwsunsnEcAjp2z7Gk9TkbWNc1iMQ_OWk9jAynszXTqlOsJAi7sGQ9pHr4er_vM-QVGR2s0l0TzGyEDKZ/s1600/08-P1100143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsfCgG4uaheYv3NfQdzHun-L6CAaOJ3nwVC_sQJyb2TFxR8XBtlDIjFL4QRb4HwsunsnEcAjp2z7Gk9TkbWNc1iMQ_OWk9jAynszXTqlOsJAi7sGQ9pHr4er_vM-QVGR2s0l0TzGyEDKZ/s1600/08-P1100143.jpg" height="470" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At long last King Winter paid us a frosty visit and left us with a few inches of lovely snow. It's a rare treat here to have snow period, but as it stands (4 days later) we still have some! The temperatures here have been very frigid and windy- which is not something we are used to. However we've still made it outside everyday this week- <i>go Waldorf and my stubbornness</i>- even if only for a little while. On the first day it snowed, we were out for five hours total. Let's just say I am one tired Mama. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On the school front we have been having fun with the snow and birds. We painted snowflakes and made lots of snow cream. We also made the birds some millet treats the day it snowed (because Deirdre was so worried about them). One book that we're really enjoying right now is Susan Jeffers' rendition of Robert Frost's poem "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stopping-By-Woods-Snowy-Evening/dp/0525467343/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390698788&sr=8-1&keywords=robert+frost+snowy+evening" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening</a>". It is just a beautifully illustrated book period, not to mention Frost's poem is one of my personal favorites. I am using it to introduce the kids to poetry and how to experience stillness in nature and our lives. "Be Still" is one of our seasonal verses as well, so it fits in well. We even all painted our versions of 'stillness' together. I am loving our art times all together (not just them with me hovering). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QN9pZCm6AZvriBE5C9sz1c86sF93CXJ9Shrbylh_sRH68uSceXVadbzE6KxKXibymUgnx5OjyvORDVHic2mDxQV9fqZAO5y-QqVCZR5XJnynCrCYH7-2tvDiey2AdMbmi_WFyIuO6OrT/s1600/12-P1100147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QN9pZCm6AZvriBE5C9sz1c86sF93CXJ9Shrbylh_sRH68uSceXVadbzE6KxKXibymUgnx5OjyvORDVHic2mDxQV9fqZAO5y-QqVCZR5XJnynCrCYH7-2tvDiey2AdMbmi_WFyIuO6OrT/s1600/12-P1100147.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4o7bRtaAvk-B25bdoPKPCsLRl0_Ay3jOOW0I2OOUbpEa61nsQhs_nwddIn6A_mlnWJ-n9lgr2KpgChNaMMf6eWZxDbKE1phgM2PTwkGlCE4cQEo6gSYtrQmUixf9d8x4kYdpwghyxsC73/s1600/13-P1100148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4o7bRtaAvk-B25bdoPKPCsLRl0_Ay3jOOW0I2OOUbpEa61nsQhs_nwddIn6A_mlnWJ-n9lgr2KpgChNaMMf6eWZxDbKE1phgM2PTwkGlCE4cQEo6gSYtrQmUixf9d8x4kYdpwghyxsC73/s1600/13-P1100148.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fL8KPkaRhh13JsLE0ElObFS8bgvHRH5tZS5DXIRRa5N65zybMGAhHvRxOy_MZDMmAfpTm2-zH07_TPy1TqfGmUVZuR4AgBtqWevsnNw6Mok-BVVRNkEm67rFLDQr4-uil53vILh7h8wU/s1600/14-P1100149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fL8KPkaRhh13JsLE0ElObFS8bgvHRH5tZS5DXIRRa5N65zybMGAhHvRxOy_MZDMmAfpTm2-zH07_TPy1TqfGmUVZuR4AgBtqWevsnNw6Mok-BVVRNkEm67rFLDQr4-uil53vILh7h8wU/s1600/14-P1100149.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EnVKwtvDh-VXeoI3xYsWuscJ4cEqqP1vUn-WQIaL40YMybE6u1dH42ObIT290_wwXXojig__yemaQwfXDUxw-CZfCSAmShnwrxXiDZOMLwXrREyc3x78Vv_LlcsSepkOmDQ3zIr1yAXe/s1600/18-P1100153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EnVKwtvDh-VXeoI3xYsWuscJ4cEqqP1vUn-WQIaL40YMybE6u1dH42ObIT290_wwXXojig__yemaQwfXDUxw-CZfCSAmShnwrxXiDZOMLwXrREyc3x78Vv_LlcsSepkOmDQ3zIr1yAXe/s1600/18-P1100153.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rM2NVuxUdTHT6GHFj-DDfjWSWfLG7JOoYaic7Nt-0yQ5PvBH2lL4x94rcQRFMllFtorA5UUk7osBSeK7xcssdKozQKJgHumqRh00hUb89GgLDP_4jlWw64soivJYkAdLebEGDbRRg8XY/s1600/20-P1100155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rM2NVuxUdTHT6GHFj-DDfjWSWfLG7JOoYaic7Nt-0yQ5PvBH2lL4x94rcQRFMllFtorA5UUk7osBSeK7xcssdKozQKJgHumqRh00hUb89GgLDP_4jlWw64soivJYkAdLebEGDbRRg8XY/s1600/20-P1100155.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhTCjKpZvMkUay8nVinoTDMWXPkaWFV_MiMuBeBBbUr7t-gvxXyqe5jcwgd46dwCInznFu6YlG4K3EzeHopJjJ8f1Ot2zn1NZLLWf_B5FFPoMYbeS44SwssGpsS80c19Sw_3ikMEbAoOh/s1600/23-P1100159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhTCjKpZvMkUay8nVinoTDMWXPkaWFV_MiMuBeBBbUr7t-gvxXyqe5jcwgd46dwCInznFu6YlG4K3EzeHopJjJ8f1Ot2zn1NZLLWf_B5FFPoMYbeS44SwssGpsS80c19Sw_3ikMEbAoOh/s1600/23-P1100159.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMkVmZjeYarzUsPaIHexIjOL8RJQkN6TzuwjhtBS5PFmzfXqxYWr69EybaKnF_s5J2DHkPI_N2aWQ1epjHiEHfqZic07nXNnmICQVcXTS3VDR1yFrH2EhyKdqX2YGT2qeACuiZTIGaB_x/s1600/24-P1100161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMkVmZjeYarzUsPaIHexIjOL8RJQkN6TzuwjhtBS5PFmzfXqxYWr69EybaKnF_s5J2DHkPI_N2aWQ1epjHiEHfqZic07nXNnmICQVcXTS3VDR1yFrH2EhyKdqX2YGT2qeACuiZTIGaB_x/s1600/24-P1100161.jpg" height="440" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last weekend on our Saturday hike we got to do some birdwatching and saw a male and female pileated woodpecker! The kids were thrilled. It was a lovely hike. So beautiful and peaceful. Halfway through the hike it randomly started to snow. We all just stood there in silence with big grins on our faces. It was truly magical. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3MWNMiTCelBBVIwEKd0IwK_ZwP59F_-6oZIAMYkL4n4ZEgcn80KOcFUN4GiBJIijr5zYKUTtDYHjaipRkqSvDMng_cTe3bLMICtVstD6P5GOmOuPpPL9e878ij4UERxeJUrH4hGdEj_E/s1600/09-P1100101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3MWNMiTCelBBVIwEKd0IwK_ZwP59F_-6oZIAMYkL4n4ZEgcn80KOcFUN4GiBJIijr5zYKUTtDYHjaipRkqSvDMng_cTe3bLMICtVstD6P5GOmOuPpPL9e878ij4UERxeJUrH4hGdEj_E/s1600/09-P1100101.JPG" height="470" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGMe7KcxtE9BjEprsdSbXhlCynjEglP-HFNTL-b-P2YVzuGVJRXiDTxW8iToaCmsb0dZBpGrnN_aJneFHgmhWepYZYOijbN4hEy9uhXKqH5DApfklD577HV1sfToRmHUKDNmQoB_GESsD/s1600/22-P1100117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGMe7KcxtE9BjEprsdSbXhlCynjEglP-HFNTL-b-P2YVzuGVJRXiDTxW8iToaCmsb0dZBpGrnN_aJneFHgmhWepYZYOijbN4hEy9uhXKqH5DApfklD577HV1sfToRmHUKDNmQoB_GESsD/s1600/22-P1100117.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZmH93Lb1ZNqE6oASH9OY_H6r0IGwQ0NrQOHBlNQDRcHDGVv6xwzzwHPnYgF4odk3YhmQZnRFNzduTTqLDf9Nh6VI0pP5Okejie4cZ6Iy6abmXwUNPhXMLN9wq6Bv5jNZIbx9iCm_7pB5/s1600/17-P1100111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZmH93Lb1ZNqE6oASH9OY_H6r0IGwQ0NrQOHBlNQDRcHDGVv6xwzzwHPnYgF4odk3YhmQZnRFNzduTTqLDf9Nh6VI0pP5Okejie4cZ6Iy6abmXwUNPhXMLN9wq6Bv5jNZIbx9iCm_7pB5/s1600/17-P1100111.JPG" height="490" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsclrYVzYlapihOhYhFWEsGtISbTf5hXruHv7zc6AU4PWjiQ5wLl-7dACDMEyarNPEiy_ttxBnCxxhG6fH2Evvykqlyccdh8bxJphTQLDVUhx-5LHYhamM4ea6WVtcSoGFXt1ojgV93J3/s1600/15-P1100109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsclrYVzYlapihOhYhFWEsGtISbTf5hXruHv7zc6AU4PWjiQ5wLl-7dACDMEyarNPEiy_ttxBnCxxhG6fH2Evvykqlyccdh8bxJphTQLDVUhx-5LHYhamM4ea6WVtcSoGFXt1ojgV93J3/s1600/15-P1100109.JPG" height="494" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Other than that we have spent lots of time indoors. Since I set up our artelier, the kids have been making ample use of it. Many afternoons, while Jonas and Brynna are napping, all Deirdre will do is quietly make art for 2 1/2 hours. This is what she did just today! I am really impressed with the doll crown and paper cut outs she's been doing. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2HQfZPwUuyEjFxK-vT1zejYQVtDQU9DUkvkL2GWJTAnblBo_QKbngj7oD-ZHkovDmWZY_ZFQHISVm89_l-gnFzIOaWc8oIUEvND9iKBkNsMMQksNnY-pKupnczPa5Gh9Fw55kwJw6v-c/s1600/01-P1100163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2HQfZPwUuyEjFxK-vT1zejYQVtDQU9DUkvkL2GWJTAnblBo_QKbngj7oD-ZHkovDmWZY_ZFQHISVm89_l-gnFzIOaWc8oIUEvND9iKBkNsMMQksNnY-pKupnczPa5Gh9Fw55kwJw6v-c/s1600/01-P1100163.JPG" height="484" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfe-TmmL60WNPWoUTKag2E5Zf4xXsgk_6ffYp5BgBLMQBiPui32R5NmAmNTK9XO5A_sPkg1ZM4tTXHTH73KUQe26qeCzL-ckjncsQHzOa8QaF5r48GJOyqwT9PEeC-Hm-WwaBw9xMYjlsy/s1600/02-P1100164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfe-TmmL60WNPWoUTKag2E5Zf4xXsgk_6ffYp5BgBLMQBiPui32R5NmAmNTK9XO5A_sPkg1ZM4tTXHTH73KUQe26qeCzL-ckjncsQHzOa8QaF5r48GJOyqwT9PEeC-Hm-WwaBw9xMYjlsy/s1600/02-P1100164.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXlNvA2nHrWW7fCl6n5iVCD-dJc8T9Z3jolp6U7zklXbsaBor34ajShir-2F3Khv-w-kPn-FC4HB-jY7otg2wzezLzSr2vNpKvZOSNftCKMz_DD1eNg8D4evC13SFD0Ex96rk-iTYHRp1/s1600/03-P1100165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXlNvA2nHrWW7fCl6n5iVCD-dJc8T9Z3jolp6U7zklXbsaBor34ajShir-2F3Khv-w-kPn-FC4HB-jY7otg2wzezLzSr2vNpKvZOSNftCKMz_DD1eNg8D4evC13SFD0Ex96rk-iTYHRp1/s1600/03-P1100165.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFLSS4PI9exBNlGAlqrOjGMpu2LYUXDvGCw1a5wSF-NoiKPDQM2iqk6qHgIrUN-l16KEfJDLjXtKQXAQKfQw8Cln-svdD3o2I3uDgrrLppkYDkXFYbADwjXzI1bGK5j-PYlQsqL7utZLQ/s1600/04-P1100167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFLSS4PI9exBNlGAlqrOjGMpu2LYUXDvGCw1a5wSF-NoiKPDQM2iqk6qHgIrUN-l16KEfJDLjXtKQXAQKfQw8Cln-svdD3o2I3uDgrrLppkYDkXFYbADwjXzI1bGK5j-PYlQsqL7utZLQ/s1600/04-P1100167.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQWTJsRfZ0jakALRb8NIJ1UapP-2NmJ6xO0KAG-k4gLm_oY5HNpGdbbghBUv-mQJXp59u5nLTc6AITgwqeKIXzXHITO9DAw0MgW6gh1HyYNkfj5r1N4-jFDjyP2OOrd77WPQTQFH-VRmO/s1600/06-P1100169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQWTJsRfZ0jakALRb8NIJ1UapP-2NmJ6xO0KAG-k4gLm_oY5HNpGdbbghBUv-mQJXp59u5nLTc6AITgwqeKIXzXHITO9DAw0MgW6gh1HyYNkfj5r1N4-jFDjyP2OOrd77WPQTQFH-VRmO/s1600/06-P1100169.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So all in all we've been having fun. Thank you all again for the support and continued concern and love. Your emails and messages really brighten my day! Life is good and I feel like we're in a good place despite the many <i>gray areas</i> looming in our future or my life. Oddly enough for me (since I am very black & white as well as a super planner) I am <i>OK</i> with that. Incredibly, happily, peacefully <i>OK</i> with it in fact. I have felt this past week very much at peace, calm, and warm. Kinda like a week long surf session. My mind keeps trying to talk me out of feeling this way, but I have just been ignoring it (which is not easy to do). I guess I also feel a bit free and empowered to deal with some of the junk in my life, grow from it, and revisit what it is I am doing and want to do. It's led to some great realizations (things I sadly died to long ago) as well as fun rabbit holes. Plus it can't hurt to take a long hard look at all the ugly bits, right? :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Until next time!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Love & Light,</div>
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09095598329895472755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-78697246949442559082014-01-04T16:00:00.000-05:002014-01-04T16:00:56.089-05:00Snow Play...well sorta! <div align="”right”">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIbMH8t4uQ4MhfJXCtSAx1-hSesd6Tp56bvkU3_v7kn6VmwT99MRJSEcOjPZRvrX6-TZXG9GBX9NafvHTK56RdhFHrDOOwVN855q5snj8RZbAcGWNMw61FYRV7E3L54txFcXs_gPWSCSZ/s1600/6-P1090942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIbMH8t4uQ4MhfJXCtSAx1-hSesd6Tp56bvkU3_v7kn6VmwT99MRJSEcOjPZRvrX6-TZXG9GBX9NafvHTK56RdhFHrDOOwVN855q5snj8RZbAcGWNMw61FYRV7E3L54txFcXs_gPWSCSZ/s640/6-P1090942.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV9jhyphenhyphenWRd3g8xisc6BReGaIYwB3W6NVYYKqOCmY42c8-rPu5_5HDa5-BgQtQWb77w7rvUn3czWqO-rX8GttBeQa2XRd7ARR7oqcUYQ9Ezb0aVKiXVOWe3YycbQyMCeukV0q4h-Hzrx2Uj/s1600/4-P1090938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV9jhyphenhyphenWRd3g8xisc6BReGaIYwB3W6NVYYKqOCmY42c8-rPu5_5HDa5-BgQtQWb77w7rvUn3czWqO-rX8GttBeQa2XRd7ARR7oqcUYQ9Ezb0aVKiXVOWe3YycbQyMCeukV0q4h-Hzrx2Uj/s640/4-P1090938.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqE8-12HUe2nzBuxipPRLZSl4Eef1_VSKTPlO4dXI1QR9Jqf_HZhTDc5WOn4bVJUuW5lp-Nq8AwzNCEx6T0BRYMcRRa9dmXOV_ASuXbWnTpewqVDCxKhJYhxUIXyDimhF009XnorTWdEy/s1600/5-P1090941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqE8-12HUe2nzBuxipPRLZSl4Eef1_VSKTPlO4dXI1QR9Jqf_HZhTDc5WOn4bVJUuW5lp-Nq8AwzNCEx6T0BRYMcRRa9dmXOV_ASuXbWnTpewqVDCxKhJYhxUIXyDimhF009XnorTWdEy/s640/5-P1090941.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEeZUGLxUey2ybxCPb0eY043vUI1K6fUTb4k5NSF6qbVaS8Nb4DGSydKJFT0mCSlkglcL6PIMUW5DH3G4uvqC3ngibpiteRocpl5D8f97yymumaSzy0SfJGkxFzrW099mmfii4OBslsqL/s1600/8-P1090946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEeZUGLxUey2ybxCPb0eY043vUI1K6fUTb4k5NSF6qbVaS8Nb4DGSydKJFT0mCSlkglcL6PIMUW5DH3G4uvqC3ngibpiteRocpl5D8f97yymumaSzy0SfJGkxFzrW099mmfii4OBslsqL/s640/8-P1090946.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuBhsNe1unCZe0HCDaRxaAcVMy8vatQIYdDV1eYXpE0p8dFwVGH60v0EHmNFFm2HQJSpuZzHB00Iuu6jj-GzSHGb1wX4WzCyOuCrA4A35dzt2iBKEctk8kpgoXR2xd5ZL4xpPSTf5A3VL/s1600/7-P1090945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuBhsNe1unCZe0HCDaRxaAcVMy8vatQIYdDV1eYXpE0p8dFwVGH60v0EHmNFFm2HQJSpuZzHB00Iuu6jj-GzSHGb1wX4WzCyOuCrA4A35dzt2iBKEctk8kpgoXR2xd5ZL4xpPSTf5A3VL/s640/7-P1090945.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxqfrHk39MFzhvN4gu0avnoZKgPMukaFQb_M7aNioQ3oWHyQ8nWv4bt7kPNEcY48k2UBTfBewXPuMQq98pCYXnlPR4DBEWHK3HfAebvfUj3rN0JlP4g3nNr773xA0CXgvoVcw9RNUCZex/s1600/1-P1090911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxqfrHk39MFzhvN4gu0avnoZKgPMukaFQb_M7aNioQ3oWHyQ8nWv4bt7kPNEcY48k2UBTfBewXPuMQq98pCYXnlPR4DBEWHK3HfAebvfUj3rN0JlP4g3nNr773xA0CXgvoVcw9RNUCZex/s640/1-P1090911.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
So after my last post I tailored my monthly plans a bit. If you're new, I have written a few posts about how we 'do' our Waldorf homeschooling (I think at this point we end up being more like Waldorf unschoolers though). This year I wrote my own curriculum of sorts. You can find more about it <a href="http://dotingondeirdre.blogspot.com/2013/08/right-now-homeschool-planning.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. While I am sure that we'll get snow at some point (we keep just missing it but not the frigid temps), I am going to stick with it this month and combine it with February's theme, winter animals. Not only does it make my life easier but there are so many rabbits holes to go down. Arctic animals, migration, hibernation vs. turgor, survival, winter fairy tales, weather, what makes it cold, ect.<br />
<br />
Our larger science theme for Winter is birds. All Autumn we focused on trees and I am happy to say that we can walk anywhere in our neighborhood and tell you all about every tree. It's neat now that when we drive places, even though the foliage is gone- the kids can point out different trees just by their shape. By far though my kids love willow and beech trees the best. Anywho, I'll share more about birds later on but we got 2 new feeders, a guide, and window feeder, and a bird log- so we're ready! I LOVE our window feeder. Our local cardinal couple love it too, so it's nice to sit with them and eat breakfast together. They don't seem to mind us bouncing around inside either :)<br />
<br />
So in keeping with snow, we are making our own snow today with the kits above. I also made a little sensory bin for the kids to play with and some 'snow' dough. It was a big hit today. So much so, they dragged their new fairytale cottage down to make the ice palace from "The Story of the Snow Children". Two years ago I made peg people to go along with the book, you can how to do it <a href="http://dotingondeirdre.blogspot.com/2012/01/snow-child-and-poppy.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. It amazes me how well they've held up and how much the kids both still love to play with them.<br />
<br />
Our nature table and house are now fully in January mode. I continue to struggle to do chalkboard drawings though, ha! I was never good at drawing, but thankfully my audience it forgiving. Hopefully Deirdre will surpass me soon and can take over, ha!<br />
<br />
I also on a whim got to take some really lovely photos of the kids during lunch today. Their eyes are starting to turn from blue to green (Deirdre's are already green like mine and my brother). It was a sweet surprise. On the downside, my paperwhites are beginning to die. Alas, Christmas really is over!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_Vtz4gPvSlC4-IOD57N7SCxJ57jljQz-W7_vdwKKyn13_4r2gpcJDRRwpEBKWxDV12YJAUmbY1npPSaUa4FzDd4YzmXM-o9JsXZ5p6Kv6Pyiq1x-8ackyFHe6cUVQc-4V4HMl-FjPvm9/s1600/1-P1090950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_Vtz4gPvSlC4-IOD57N7SCxJ57jljQz-W7_vdwKKyn13_4r2gpcJDRRwpEBKWxDV12YJAUmbY1npPSaUa4FzDd4YzmXM-o9JsXZ5p6Kv6Pyiq1x-8ackyFHe6cUVQc-4V4HMl-FjPvm9/s640/1-P1090950.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4QcpQzs6YXmBXuw_ULBaukT3DeaOeW2m63gBhcXgBjGndsShFciNU9512i8AXnuAh081W1DRvAnE91d_5lkbhnP-mR3azTCgtfvdBblQqjUQbVQ55ClfBLgcSpOs9bR_mwwphoE-opV9/s1600/2-P1090951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4QcpQzs6YXmBXuw_ULBaukT3DeaOeW2m63gBhcXgBjGndsShFciNU9512i8AXnuAh081W1DRvAnE91d_5lkbhnP-mR3azTCgtfvdBblQqjUQbVQ55ClfBLgcSpOs9bR_mwwphoE-opV9/s1600/2-P1090951.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw_Sp12gTSKKtM4iEIP9d9-6LcOBLJPJj4lWhUT8yCnWV2UeaEWObnoP5ELqEM39zKA9Mnq55czduZsAq1v8piGnil9HVA6D6POql07dQ7lJw5Wpg53NObC8cArq0w07MXFFl6TK-47fC/s1600/2-P1090920-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw_Sp12gTSKKtM4iEIP9d9-6LcOBLJPJj4lWhUT8yCnWV2UeaEWObnoP5ELqEM39zKA9Mnq55czduZsAq1v8piGnil9HVA6D6POql07dQ7lJw5Wpg53NObC8cArq0w07MXFFl6TK-47fC/s640/2-P1090920-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSAWQXnkR3TyF0gKcvNXhcT7-AnTucGZiSZ_3dQTZOIARVwfZ5lp81eSiGTO6oxN0u-AkXtXqos8HZVxuA1GW73ejbGHhlkzPfP9Alj5fQtuQxWkH-2s3uGI0JV0kxgsrJB-Yp2bwmzid/s1600/4-P1090924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSAWQXnkR3TyF0gKcvNXhcT7-AnTucGZiSZ_3dQTZOIARVwfZ5lp81eSiGTO6oxN0u-AkXtXqos8HZVxuA1GW73ejbGHhlkzPfP9Alj5fQtuQxWkH-2s3uGI0JV0kxgsrJB-Yp2bwmzid/s640/4-P1090924.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvin_AhYL-pcYWfjT0X_VNQ0AonFzy4CLCrxirsv2W0kO4J2wE8BDYdX6SdWB-T_ssb3woZHP2DKi0aWCc289ZBf_s9TKPdMJhlmIS3qbf-JE76COrO3aNKuDFrNYeDkcicrz6e2YQAFC/s1600/6-P1090936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvin_AhYL-pcYWfjT0X_VNQ0AonFzy4CLCrxirsv2W0kO4J2wE8BDYdX6SdWB-T_ssb3woZHP2DKi0aWCc289ZBf_s9TKPdMJhlmIS3qbf-JE76COrO3aNKuDFrNYeDkcicrz6e2YQAFC/s640/6-P1090936.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrPQujQiEXcz_5JDhVduhgkPidoRBw_tGx7hxrsMBgK8M25mzM1-JnIN3Dn60pMDhZIJUErxs460nrp8VRezngbArztGHq_fnm2sv41hfTo2gN3538XbnPblSFEhntuiyNlr_8RA5Rk7S/s1600/1-P1090869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrPQujQiEXcz_5JDhVduhgkPidoRBw_tGx7hxrsMBgK8M25mzM1-JnIN3Dn60pMDhZIJUErxs460nrp8VRezngbArztGHq_fnm2sv41hfTo2gN3538XbnPblSFEhntuiyNlr_8RA5Rk7S/s640/1-P1090869.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Until Next Time,</div>
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09095598329895472755noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-71190568603467101922014-01-02T15:12:00.002-05:002014-01-02T15:24:55.729-05:00Gray January Adventures <div align="”right”">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AIlo5e3-DbTjpvSu7TtgFkhWmROi0QH2GpU5_ChhT8AimsmjiKRWVVP-cveTT8UJDp0p_uK-RnvwyOVxVpfQW7uLcSnZLsLqe317tds3GuWmSwPxBjP5RxWSWCEQnVWWMymbxJplT_WS/s1600/12-P1090887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AIlo5e3-DbTjpvSu7TtgFkhWmROi0QH2GpU5_ChhT8AimsmjiKRWVVP-cveTT8UJDp0p_uK-RnvwyOVxVpfQW7uLcSnZLsLqe317tds3GuWmSwPxBjP5RxWSWCEQnVWWMymbxJplT_WS/s640/12-P1090887.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Winter comes with ice and snow</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Covers over the seeds below</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Stark the trees and cold the air</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>King Winter rules the land, beware!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>-Betty Jones from "A Child's Seasonal Treasury"</i></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQ6W-8UA2k-rODiuDbIy2dZwDFkBSRVjV2NOi3lggVAf6VWOllMJgmME_0yNzf9zo4x-VXuNga_fdK4d13ruLMcAHZtoMYH2HlWIbOt6ujh7PXUmC3OEkF1C1KB837hl_o4sby3chUioY/s1600/02-P1090872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQ6W-8UA2k-rODiuDbIy2dZwDFkBSRVjV2NOi3lggVAf6VWOllMJgmME_0yNzf9zo4x-VXuNga_fdK4d13ruLMcAHZtoMYH2HlWIbOt6ujh7PXUmC3OEkF1C1KB837hl_o4sby3chUioY/s640/02-P1090872.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one is getting adventurous. She wants to be leader.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LKs_B069EqyICma09nGWe1OvV_w_mRI8SmbmF3Yb0fp_l-pYJwXl-mSR0Qe4-_p5sFVzle5XLz-3FuzRj13Hs4CjRiJFOu4E_Y8MGYfDJqoqnwTi5SUWGdjKAKd7BYG84kVGCZ9FM-6P/s1600/03-P1090873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LKs_B069EqyICma09nGWe1OvV_w_mRI8SmbmF3Yb0fp_l-pYJwXl-mSR0Qe4-_p5sFVzle5XLz-3FuzRj13Hs4CjRiJFOu4E_Y8MGYfDJqoqnwTi5SUWGdjKAKd7BYG84kVGCZ9FM-6P/s1600/03-P1090873.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking out the perfect picnic spot!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-teVDhn0AKB5VHS9QmE9lxg9XjYrIbatUZQ3N-F50iHDpQGU06H7QfkT3x0LMCHStxiLzxyLsUjDQbsDAi_lqlsp8WTJ6GQ-b97AW2Fg86bYufFJneLne-cXsjyPrJQwZKbyi_vJmUK3r/s1600/06-P1090877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-teVDhn0AKB5VHS9QmE9lxg9XjYrIbatUZQ3N-F50iHDpQGU06H7QfkT3x0LMCHStxiLzxyLsUjDQbsDAi_lqlsp8WTJ6GQ-b97AW2Fg86bYufFJneLne-cXsjyPrJQwZKbyi_vJmUK3r/s640/06-P1090877.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Please Mommy take a picture of us and then show me!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGCUqFSUJbCbrkfQvGtNLZueIs4m96lV6eBan3L3NJrEj8jRuVR6DyO6iDbCOtm5JU4IqDdFwNxJxf39WxivU_tTKvBCysQPmEIfrmKGTnPgiSVB1CQgPoniBDTJ1eZlzZc5Q606Tq9xc/s1600/09-P1090883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGCUqFSUJbCbrkfQvGtNLZueIs4m96lV6eBan3L3NJrEj8jRuVR6DyO6iDbCOtm5JU4IqDdFwNxJxf39WxivU_tTKvBCysQPmEIfrmKGTnPgiSVB1CQgPoniBDTJ1eZlzZc5Q606Tq9xc/s640/09-P1090883.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On their animal hunt...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7Mc6O-kTD6DXIp5ApZhw8r4CiQOhV9PHUVBykg-forPDAxOClHOtdn6jOvUMu7Fd4OQLAtvAPmmiLRadIQ4858EkWNNJLmvUQSN6aTzT_fMk5P0SRZ2XkAD55ORpnbCVXqrfpkbRum3q/s1600/16-P1090891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7Mc6O-kTD6DXIp5ApZhw8r4CiQOhV9PHUVBykg-forPDAxOClHOtdn6jOvUMu7Fd4OQLAtvAPmmiLRadIQ4858EkWNNJLmvUQSN6aTzT_fMk5P0SRZ2XkAD55ORpnbCVXqrfpkbRum3q/s640/16-P1090891.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My big strong boy who is refusing to let me cut his hair!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1URf1_YWYf6_fl5CUflZ7CKk-fNWgybwbQLL21r5jraqkYZ9xvvQ3dVNMaN518G5nivH8FWgm5SnWBR-PYajVOjbOJxhmKqfExsZhLDoOOGRpXS51VAzhXXQXKS2Kn34njYnSuBsRPoC/s1600/15-P1090890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1URf1_YWYf6_fl5CUflZ7CKk-fNWgybwbQLL21r5jraqkYZ9xvvQ3dVNMaN518G5nivH8FWgm5SnWBR-PYajVOjbOJxhmKqfExsZhLDoOOGRpXS51VAzhXXQXKS2Kn34njYnSuBsRPoC/s640/15-P1090890.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonas helped Brynna climb up. She was thrilled. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYQmxPnirZXA5iBlZ3_T8CeQv44Y9Q3L6LnlMa9yRffKl-jkLmWWvfzSrdfEZomrZJO4BpS9_R1L5d8VdENdjcjt37q8nLJUFHiLMKLbYXb3AyY-VxXMzN98G3-o36SbFfKGy9bVvP5Fd/s1600/1-P1090878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYQmxPnirZXA5iBlZ3_T8CeQv44Y9Q3L6LnlMa9yRffKl-jkLmWWvfzSrdfEZomrZJO4BpS9_R1L5d8VdENdjcjt37q8nLJUFHiLMKLbYXb3AyY-VxXMzN98G3-o36SbFfKGy9bVvP5Fd/s640/1-P1090878.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Story time!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Firstly, THANK YOU. All of you. From the blog, to facebook, to email, to even pinterest- thank you. The love you've injected into my life since my last post, before and after, continues to just BLOW me away. In some of my darker moments, I feigned from sharing because I feared judgment and that no one would care. You all have proved this wrong over and over again. I really need to stop over thinking the impulses of my heart and learn to share freely more. You all have given me a lot more courage to do so, so once again thank you...</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Now on to the happy stuff :) </i></div>
<br />
So far this year, we've had no snow. Some ice and cold temperatures, but there has also been many unseasonably warm days. Two weeks ago I actually broke out my favorite summer dress because it was in the 70s. Regardless, it's a bit chiller now and my body is full on into hibernation and soup mode.<br />
<br />
We're back from our holiday break and onto our January. This month our theme is snow and our book is<i> Ollie's Ski Trip</i>. However, like last year, focusing on snow is proving hard when there is <i>none</i>. This week were also studying stars in honor of Epiphany. Ultimately though, I think I am going to blend in snow with winter animals, because we keep finding lots of them- or at least evidence of them. I never thought wide open fields would have so many little critters in them!<br />
<br />
Today we took a filed trip back to the kids' new favorite place, the Yorktown battlefield earthworks. I explained to them what earthworks were, why they were there, ect... but the kids call this place their <i>'earth playground'</i> and are fairly convinced that dwarves made the hills and the holes we see all over are the entrances to their mines. Ha! Needless to say I haven't pushed it.<br />
<br />
So off we went. We had a picnic and then circle time. We read <i>the Mitten</i> and brought along the mitten Jonas and I made (he surprisingly really likes to sew). Then we hid the animals all over the hills and took turns finding them. Lastly, and this is my favorite part, we went on an adventure. And boy was it an adventure today.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Look what we found in the woods!!! </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXK8YTaKWfFJYr_RFqiPwOBStXrgtDCyU0iW7gCoY1-pWpgEPmTUQBhzqkiv6zq2WDF5WpCsSHFTjG4y-W0AV056KQFefKHIkYjD_7LeQhhSJIcCn5yokeFm4f587qRN0WoPHNfDhj3FU/s1600/17-P1090892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXK8YTaKWfFJYr_RFqiPwOBStXrgtDCyU0iW7gCoY1-pWpgEPmTUQBhzqkiv6zq2WDF5WpCsSHFTjG4y-W0AV056KQFefKHIkYjD_7LeQhhSJIcCn5yokeFm4f587qRN0WoPHNfDhj3FU/s640/17-P1090892.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkzfD-GRnnow2MSKMup6c9yO64hb-doR5RzkaHOl3McHm0Rh87SYwQbGLdgjeWvjy-tzzAYKggzLP0CGY2wR-WlhokCd6sHEvJSFQm6DMQcAh00fRbgx4kgl0xij4z63nuqDhFiKS48wF/s1600/19-P1090895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkzfD-GRnnow2MSKMup6c9yO64hb-doR5RzkaHOl3McHm0Rh87SYwQbGLdgjeWvjy-tzzAYKggzLP0CGY2wR-WlhokCd6sHEvJSFQm6DMQcAh00fRbgx4kgl0xij4z63nuqDhFiKS48wF/s640/19-P1090895.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0Hh2mnzCArJKiMCrCtZz-c0YKeAZKW47gGm0rs_jG19MB3HN-rti-7fkkPc3hlWmtGxNsBAljCJvGItq8SEXQnYz-nvMSWEaoj831ZwXO0xs2yxxLs0tbWFdE3n60mC4b2YSugnUNvFM/s1600/20-P1090896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0Hh2mnzCArJKiMCrCtZz-c0YKeAZKW47gGm0rs_jG19MB3HN-rti-7fkkPc3hlWmtGxNsBAljCJvGItq8SEXQnYz-nvMSWEaoj831ZwXO0xs2yxxLs0tbWFdE3n60mC4b2YSugnUNvFM/s640/20-P1090896.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOZjpRKIDGyuLirKzEUpWoutYV96wkW7oa7QQgQTDL1eD9GXh6fM-vsYmo787KfFmrK841wTtb0mADBLVcED7Ku9EbOJObkuFPa6ImfmT2v1YJyifI6IwydY8Gj9o5PhtESe8SksoORR_/s1600/1-2014-01-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOZjpRKIDGyuLirKzEUpWoutYV96wkW7oa7QQgQTDL1eD9GXh6fM-vsYmo787KfFmrK841wTtb0mADBLVcED7Ku9EbOJObkuFPa6ImfmT2v1YJyifI6IwydY8Gj9o5PhtESe8SksoORR_/s640/1-2014-01-02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bits of nature we found. I take photos and then we all look it up later in our books or on the "puter" as Jonas calls it. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Needless to say the kids were overjoyed. I have no idea who built it. The kids added to it and we played with that little shelter for over an hour. I could not get them to leave. They wanted to camp there. I was tempted to at least let them nap there. But then we meandered about some more and saw neat bits of nature. By the end of our adventure all of our pockets were full of moss, rocks, twigs, and leaves.<br />
<br />
I could just go on and on about what I '<i>taught</i>' today or what they '<i>learned</i>' but the more and more I think about it, the more and more I believe that's not really the point. I don't think that's the point of Waldorf anymore either- but then again I never thought that was the point anyway (which is why I was so drawn to it). This process, this journey, that all of us are on together- myself included- is the goal. I'm sure I could wax eloquent more on that, but I will leave you all here with this photo. I am not sure why it warms my heart so, but oh it does.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQVzP7AOsVf72aurPG9emq8GzNM0kyFiek595YznIOXkOoRtniprRmPovFhr3KXpIqSyAl05z5TWgOrQ1s8dM0jt0EW7njJXk1TokicjeaD4A9HbHjABcMmzgCnxmEo4rcKghz1qX-Vyg/s1600/22-P1090909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQVzP7AOsVf72aurPG9emq8GzNM0kyFiek595YznIOXkOoRtniprRmPovFhr3KXpIqSyAl05z5TWgOrQ1s8dM0jt0EW7njJXk1TokicjeaD4A9HbHjABcMmzgCnxmEo4rcKghz1qX-Vyg/s640/22-P1090909.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Love & Light,</div>
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09095598329895472755noreply@blogger.com4Battlefield Tour Road, Yorktown, VA, USA37.215289299999988 -76.50721950000001937.164435799999985 -76.588243500000019 37.26614279999999 -76.42619550000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-71689355061167620872013-12-09T18:05:00.000-05:002013-12-09T18:05:58.801-05:00The Second Week of Advent :: Plant Kingdom <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="”right”">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vmhgBOIR6dw/UqZAVy5ykZI/AAAAAAAADQs/1UXONdZnhr4/s1600/03-P1090703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vmhgBOIR6dw/UqZAVy5ykZI/AAAAAAAADQs/1UXONdZnhr4/s640/03-P1090703.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The second week of Advent is the light of plants-</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Plants that reach up to the sun and breezes that dance. </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EsaATJXoPDs/UqZAVST42AI/AAAAAAAADQg/CFpIgU2u7y8/s1600/01-P1090701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EsaATJXoPDs/UqZAVST42AI/AAAAAAAADQg/CFpIgU2u7y8/s640/01-P1090701.JPG" width="604" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N8fg3KuSJzU/UqZAU80mWfI/AAAAAAAADQc/bSCvefFjkvo/s1600/02-P1090702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N8fg3KuSJzU/UqZAU80mWfI/AAAAAAAADQc/bSCvefFjkvo/s640/02-P1090702.JPG" width="502" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7sho6rQbUlU/UqZAW8n1o_I/AAAAAAAADQ4/q0xP8sQH_kU/s1600/05-P1090705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7sho6rQbUlU/UqZAW8n1o_I/AAAAAAAADQ4/q0xP8sQH_kU/s640/05-P1090705.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RgJfDpcxuWM/UqZAWw_L-iI/AAAAAAAADRA/RwfYHThFJmc/s1600/06-P1090706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RgJfDpcxuWM/UqZAWw_L-iI/AAAAAAAADRA/RwfYHThFJmc/s640/06-P1090706.JPG" width="370" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uKNH0e7-TOo/UqZAYNRMYDI/AAAAAAAADRM/XyYsOBN_g0I/s1600/07-P1090708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uKNH0e7-TOo/UqZAYNRMYDI/AAAAAAAADRM/XyYsOBN_g0I/s640/07-P1090708.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This holiday season is just chugging along. The days are long gone in my life when it seemed like Christmas took FOREVER to get here. Now it is a blink and then BAM... it's New Years already! Maybe after my children leave home, it will slow back down- but probably not! I don't mind really. I just am trying to be more intentional about slowing down and being engaged with the kids versus doing lots of 'things' and becoming harried. My children really amplify my joy during this season. My days with them are brighter and being able to see the world with new eyes as they do is oh so precious. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This week in order to celebrate the plant kingdom, we're decking the halls with our greenery and planting plants!(You can read more about how Waldorf schools and families celebrate the Advent season <a href="http://dotingondeirdre.blogspot.com/2013/12/transitions-and-advent.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here </a>and <a href="http://theparentingpassageway.com/2010/12/04/ideas-for-the-second-week-of-advent-in-the-waldorf-home/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>). We planted paperwhites and amaryllis yesterday, and we also hung up our fresh wreath, mistletoe, and pine roping. It actually smells like Christmas. We've already have a multitude of plants books to read this week since we spent the Autumn studying trees. Mainly I am going to focus on evergreens and tell them the story of how and why we started celebrating with Christmas trees. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Lastly, yesterday also happened to be Deirdre's 6th birthday. Since last December she has requested a Fox party. So fox party it was. It rained, so we had to have the party indoors but boy was it fun. I will post more on that later. Our dear friends the Luptons gifted Deirdre their game Wildcraft. I have wanted to get this game for a long time but the cost held me back. We're all so excited to play it this week and it will fit in perfectly with our plant kingdom theme, so thank you!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I hope this find you all well. Thank you for all the well wishes. I am feeling much better physically and emotionally. Your love and support warms my heart!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C01aujg-BOs/UqZCMSlVUzI/AAAAAAAADSs/Uf9NhM5eUNg/s1600/1-P1090733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C01aujg-BOs/UqZCMSlVUzI/AAAAAAAADSs/Uf9NhM5eUNg/s640/1-P1090733.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3W7ZnxSQ1zQ/UqZAY6VFPvI/AAAAAAAADRc/VtpPqUikZoU/s1600/09-P1090710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3W7ZnxSQ1zQ/UqZAY6VFPvI/AAAAAAAADRc/VtpPqUikZoU/s640/09-P1090710.JPG" width="510" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XN0pxdbTiAg/UqZAaIAsPKI/AAAAAAAADRs/21Q6l_WQZA4/s1600/11-P1090712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XN0pxdbTiAg/UqZAaIAsPKI/AAAAAAAADRs/21Q6l_WQZA4/s640/11-P1090712.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eUP8M3eQ3wQ/UqZAaDF15HI/AAAAAAAADRw/1ba3Qdud1zU/s1600/12-P1090713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eUP8M3eQ3wQ/UqZAaDF15HI/AAAAAAAADRw/1ba3Qdud1zU/s640/12-P1090713.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OUI1PWdvEnU/UqZAaw9NswI/AAAAAAAADR8/a432zITLn-E/s1600/13-P1090714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OUI1PWdvEnU/UqZAaw9NswI/AAAAAAAADR8/a432zITLn-E/s640/13-P1090714.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FnRLQRsA02E/UqZAbsUn5TI/AAAAAAAADSE/CBI5LAXV9ok/s1600/14-P1090716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FnRLQRsA02E/UqZAbsUn5TI/AAAAAAAADSE/CBI5LAXV9ok/s640/14-P1090716.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love & Light,</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-56873735573803794972013-12-04T22:43:00.002-05:002013-12-04T22:43:37.830-05:00The First Week of Advent :: Geode Ornaments <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="”right”">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zPsSLJLA3vk/Up_y64FlfiI/AAAAAAAADO4/Ih5bXzTs_S4/s1600/05-P1090692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="468" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zPsSLJLA3vk/Up_y64FlfiI/AAAAAAAADO4/Ih5bXzTs_S4/s640/05-P1090692.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jqNeGyhjWQM/Up_y5EoY0QI/AAAAAAAADOw/xIHKpSPO4kc/s1600/02-P1090689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jqNeGyhjWQM/Up_y5EoY0QI/AAAAAAAADOw/xIHKpSPO4kc/s640/02-P1090689.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fjd4vw-zrR4/Up_y3uLxNYI/AAAAAAAADOg/joZDesPX6Eg/s1600/03-P1090690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fjd4vw-zrR4/Up_y3uLxNYI/AAAAAAAADOg/joZDesPX6Eg/s640/03-P1090690.JPG" width="585" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7tSVdLKye60/Up_y78miQOI/AAAAAAAADO8/fgNOnaWZHAw/s1600/04-P1090691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="570" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7tSVdLKye60/Up_y78miQOI/AAAAAAAADO8/fgNOnaWZHAw/s640/04-P1090691.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BhLvjc8z4GI/Up_y70pcY7I/AAAAAAAADPA/7sHbX5QcNTM/s1600/06-P1090693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BhLvjc8z4GI/Up_y70pcY7I/AAAAAAAADPA/7sHbX5QcNTM/s640/06-P1090693.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We're really enjoying our first week of Advent here. I think the kids are going to become rock enthusiasts, which would be fine by me! When I was a tad older than Deirdre, I LOVED rocks. My adopted uncle was a geologist and he gave me safety google and a rock hammer for my birthday. I then set about breaking open any and every rock I could find, as well as toting my collection everywhere. Let's just say I am loving this week too!<br />
<br />
Today to keep with our Advent theme (the first week is the mineral kingdom) we broke open a geode- and learned about them too. It was fun to ask the kids what they thought might be inside and to have them guess how geodes were made.<br />
<br />
After we broke it open we also read about them in our library book. We got three big pieces and a bunch of small ones from our geode. We used two smaller pieces to make geode ornaments for our tree. I tried to keep in simple so we used our Jolly markers to color two wood disks and then glued the geode on. Then I drilled a hole for ribbon on the top of each disk and viola- onto the tree each one went.<br />
<br />
In preparation for next week, the plant kingdom, we added some more greenery to the house from our woods. I even finished decorating and Deirdre helped me set out Oma's Noel collection. It really feels like Christmas now. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QaH7udqeb5s/Up_y9Lh7EeI/AAAAAAAADPM/a85oz7pmQVg/s1600/07-P1090695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QaH7udqeb5s/Up_y9Lh7EeI/AAAAAAAADPM/a85oz7pmQVg/s400/07-P1090695.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ykfmwHcd4Vg/Up_y_CYtPKI/AAAAAAAADPU/O3z7YLcuU-s/s1600/08-P1090696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ykfmwHcd4Vg/Up_y_CYtPKI/AAAAAAAADPU/O3z7YLcuU-s/s400/08-P1090696.JPG" width="293" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--qZ3AB3mlhw/Up_y_c2ZGFI/AAAAAAAADPY/m3XPnAklugE/s1600/09-P1090697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--qZ3AB3mlhw/Up_y_c2ZGFI/AAAAAAAADPY/m3XPnAklugE/s400/09-P1090697.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZwSe4vtak8/Up_zAnDhJMI/AAAAAAAADPk/sGfiHaPMw3k/s1600/10-P1090698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZwSe4vtak8/Up_zAnDhJMI/AAAAAAAADPk/sGfiHaPMw3k/s400/10-P1090698.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E9Xm31UhLV4/Up_zA0DlDGI/AAAAAAAADPo/TOlAB2TVpY0/s1600/11-P1090700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E9Xm31UhLV4/Up_zA0DlDGI/AAAAAAAADPo/TOlAB2TVpY0/s400/11-P1090700.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Love & Light,</div>
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /></div>
</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-75697804079533644272013-12-01T16:40:00.001-05:002013-12-03T21:10:20.376-05:00Transitions and Advent<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-style: italic; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uedYPTZ7InA/UpurL-FBcOI/AAAAAAAADNA/lOC4T-LPPPg/s1600/12-P1090685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="544" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uedYPTZ7InA/UpurL-FBcOI/AAAAAAAADNA/lOC4T-LPPPg/s640/12-P1090685.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our advent set-up with the advent spiral Pam and I made!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-style: italic;"><i style="background-color: transparent;">"The first light of Advent is the light of stone–.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic;"></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic;"><i style="background-color: transparent;">Stones that live in crystals, seashells, and bones.</i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;">The second light of Advent is the light of plants–</i></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;">Plants that reach up to the sun and in the breezes dance.</i></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;">The third light of Advent is the light of beasts–</i></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;">All await the birth, from the greatest and in least.</i></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;">The fourth light of Advent is the light of humankind–</i></div>
</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="color: #222222; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The light of hope that we may learn to love and understand."</span></i></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-style: italic; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-715i_zEAIa8/Upur2mEEYnI/AAAAAAAADOE/NMSAlIwwbpk/s1600/03-P1090648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-715i_zEAIa8/Upur2mEEYnI/AAAAAAAADOE/NMSAlIwwbpk/s640/03-P1090648.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was so sad to take down the geese I made!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-style: italic;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-style: italic; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAClinUPMnU/Upur2r1tG2I/AAAAAAAADOA/MOX5AdCCRLQ/s1600/04-P1090649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAClinUPMnU/Upur2r1tG2I/AAAAAAAADOA/MOX5AdCCRLQ/s640/04-P1090649.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But happy to make our pinecone garland with the leftover fair trade ribbon yarn I got from craft night!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We're full on into December over here. Out with our Pilgrims and turkeys and in with our December theme of Advent. I swear November flew by. Things have been a bit heavy here lately and I have been struggling to find stillness. I am hoping to be more intentional about that during our Advent season. If you all could be sending thoughts and prayers my way to help me do this, I'd greatly appreciate it! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I shared with a few few folks, who asked me how I could do "advent" as our theme all December long, that Advent in the Waldorf tradition is celebrated a bit differently. Each week has a theme and focuses on a different earthly kingdom. The neat about that is that it makes Advent accessible to people of all faiths and depending on the faith that you practice, or don't, you can tailor it to what is more or less important to your family. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<i style="text-align: left;"></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jeQN7ouAC6I/UpurRlATLoI/AAAAAAAADNI/sPjNszQCHMU/s1600/09-P1090677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jeQN7ouAC6I/UpurRlATLoI/AAAAAAAADNI/sPjNszQCHMU/s640/09-P1090677.JPG" width="480" /></a></i></div>
<i style="text-align: left;">
</i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="text-align: left;"><br /></i></div>
<i style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q6jnW3sH0Dg/UpurvRSJ2CI/AAAAAAAADNw/sKQJdrfODU8/s1600/08-P1090670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q6jnW3sH0Dg/UpurvRSJ2CI/AAAAAAAADNw/sKQJdrfODU8/s640/08-P1090670.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Th595317nSk/UpurvAaYk6I/AAAAAAAADN0/kmdBxBDybqI/s1600/11-P1090680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Th595317nSk/UpurvAaYk6I/AAAAAAAADN0/kmdBxBDybqI/s400/11-P1090680.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This week for stones we're going to be learning about stones, fossils, gems, and crystals. I plan on wet felting some stones and soaps for gifts with the kids and we have a nice advent song and stories that emphasize our faith and stones from the Winter Wystones book here<i>:</i></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: start;">Hush-a-bye, hush-a-bye, holy night,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="color: #222222; text-align: start;" /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: start;">angels have brought the Child of Light:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="color: #222222; text-align: start;" /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: start;">All mankind shall gently bear Him;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="color: #222222; text-align: start;" /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: start;">all the beasts shall nestle near Him,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="color: #222222; text-align: start;" /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: start;">all the flowers shall adore Him,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="color: #222222; text-align: start;" /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: start;">all the stones shall kneel before Him,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="color: #222222; text-align: start;" /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: start;">all the world shall worship Him,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="color: #222222; text-align: start;" /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: start;">cherubim and seraphim.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We also departed a bit from tradition this year. Saint Nicholas came early! This year he was bringing them their new nativity and I thought it would work better with what we had planned to have him come on the first day of Advent, versus the 6th. Forgive me German friends! The kids were nonetheless excited and didn't notice him coming sooner :) </span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e3KPntXSOiY/UpurdSn7RfI/AAAAAAAADNY/RGpOlIvnsmg/s1600/05-P1090663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e3KPntXSOiY/UpurdSn7RfI/AAAAAAAADNY/RGpOlIvnsmg/s400/05-P1090663.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-style: italic;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nsbnF0AHxmo/Upurc9_lxPI/AAAAAAAADNQ/Ldgs8RJEuuY/s1600/06-P1090667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nsbnF0AHxmo/Upurc9_lxPI/AAAAAAAADNQ/Ldgs8RJEuuY/s400/06-P1090667.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-style: italic;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-style: italic; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dzds9rpbEuk/UpurdvEzzhI/AAAAAAAADNc/ylahZb5BBa0/s1600/07-P1090668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dzds9rpbEuk/UpurdvEzzhI/AAAAAAAADNc/ylahZb5BBa0/s400/07-P1090668.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The horse was messy this year!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-style: italic;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QjVeNnBID1s/UpureFg5oOI/AAAAAAAADNk/HRNKnomPMo8/s1600/10-P1090678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QjVeNnBID1s/UpureFg5oOI/AAAAAAAADNk/HRNKnomPMo8/s640/10-P1090678.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think that about covers what we're up to for now. We've got lots of crafts planned and fun outings that I am excited to share with you. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>PS: I am linking up with my lovely friend Nicole at <a href="http://networkedblogs.com/RFmxk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Frontier Dreams</a> this week as well as Linda at <a href="http://www.naturalsuburbia.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Natural Suburbia</a>! </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Love and Light,</span></span></div>
</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-85845898549719028362013-11-20T22:08:00.000-05:002013-11-20T22:10:39.033-05:00::Right Now:: & A Christmas Quilt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="”right”">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jvYEcJ8UWm4/Uo1y8ypmt1I/AAAAAAAADMc/tgig8EucKHY/s1600/10-P1090613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jvYEcJ8UWm4/Uo1y8ypmt1I/AAAAAAAADMc/tgig8EucKHY/s400/10-P1090613.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. November himself!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hg5t5SHH5F0/Uo1y0bH6S4I/AAAAAAAADLI/X6H55F54H6Q/s1600/01-P1090512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hg5t5SHH5F0/Uo1y0bH6S4I/AAAAAAAADLI/X6H55F54H6Q/s400/01-P1090512.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just love this one</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v6jNg-lFY0I/Uo1y2VCdtjI/AAAAAAAADLY/04qsWTrSPfc/s1600/02-P1090549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v6jNg-lFY0I/Uo1y2VCdtjI/AAAAAAAADLY/04qsWTrSPfc/s400/02-P1090549.JPG" width="281" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g4uUFOLR0KY/Uo1y1qDMoAI/AAAAAAAADLQ/PhVp5bvzPwM/s1600/03-P1090587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g4uUFOLR0KY/Uo1y1qDMoAI/AAAAAAAADLQ/PhVp5bvzPwM/s400/03-P1090587.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our November garland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y0wNhHjPyTU/Uo1y4CngUaI/AAAAAAAADLg/NRXgUQR4E_M/s1600/04-P1090588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y0wNhHjPyTU/Uo1y4CngUaI/AAAAAAAADLg/NRXgUQR4E_M/s400/04-P1090588.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">November circle time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aec9UMcVMZ4/Uo1y5OhG1mI/AAAAAAAADLo/FADheBv3I9A/s1600/05-P1090591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aec9UMcVMZ4/Uo1y5OhG1mI/AAAAAAAADLo/FADheBv3I9A/s400/05-P1090591.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Indian corn experiment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cux9Q524518/Uo1yQif47MI/AAAAAAAADLA/JRJ6fdh80K0/s1600/01-P1090625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cux9Q524518/Uo1yQif47MI/AAAAAAAADLA/JRJ6fdh80K0/s400/01-P1090625.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Right Now I Am..</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...<b><i>Revelling </i></b>in the quilt I just finished. I am happy to say that I am done with Jonas' Christmas quilt. <a href="http://dotingondeirdre.blogspot.com/2011/12/right-now.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Deirdre got a quilt at age 4</a>, so Jonas was due for one. However I lost the fabric in the move I originally wanted to use so I decided to embroider his squares. It took a week and a half start to finish. The squares were all hand embroidered by myself and I just freehanded the designs with a pencil from some online images and by Jonas' request (Thus the Christmas bat!). It was my first time using the quilt as you go method and I am pleased. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...<b><i>Recuperating </i></b>once again from a series of colds and busyness. I just can't seem to stay well. Boo. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...<b><i>Admiring </i></b>the autumn leaves. Right now we're at the peak here in Yorktown. I think we've got one more week before most trees are bare. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...<b><i>Finishing </i></b>up our month long turkey and pilgrim theme. We've had a fun time growing Indian corn, making pilgrims hats, and even gourd turkeys. I have to say, I really am loving homeschooling. Deirdre even got to meet some local wild turkeys at our Living Museum during a program they had. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...<b><i>Gearing </i></b>up for December. We're going to take a break of sorts from homeschooling that month. We'll still be reading and our theme is advent but most of our crafting and trips will be geared towards the holidays. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...<b><i>Feeling </i></b>so blessed to have such amazing local freinds. There was a time when both my best friends moved away that I was very angry about once again being alone and then new friendships were made and old ones deepened. I love my ladies (<i>That means you Anya, Abby, Emily, Lila, & Sherry)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...<b><i>Soaking </i></b>up this time with my kiddos. I love that both D and J are old enough to list and be thankful for things. I love keeping our thankful tree. I am going to save it's leaves for years to come. It's a good lead into Christmas- as well as it compliments Martinmas. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>November, I love you! </i></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nFCWaZOAlyw/Uo1y5GRb2BI/AAAAAAAADLs/wDJjyJlyQ6Q/s1600/06-P1090595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nFCWaZOAlyw/Uo1y5GRb2BI/AAAAAAAADLs/wDJjyJlyQ6Q/s640/06-P1090595.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our thankful tree- next to it is a collection box for Mission India <br />
(which we've been participating in it for Martinmas)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gIhCC3f5N6E/Uo1y6THOqNI/AAAAAAAADL4/v1_E1O0PZ-M/s1600/07-P1090598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gIhCC3f5N6E/Uo1y6THOqNI/AAAAAAAADL4/v1_E1O0PZ-M/s400/07-P1090598.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thankful leaf</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cw3P965jUlU/Uo1y7TSrVAI/AAAAAAAADMI/wB52dDhxD2Q/s1600/08-P1090600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cw3P965jUlU/Uo1y7TSrVAI/AAAAAAAADMI/wB52dDhxD2Q/s400/08-P1090600.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our November table</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GQUrdkX-PF0/Uo1y6hD0isI/AAAAAAAADL8/FFUF9pcCKdE/s1600/09-P1090605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GQUrdkX-PF0/Uo1y6hD0isI/AAAAAAAADL8/FFUF9pcCKdE/s400/09-P1090605.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of our Martinmas lanterns</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-emolpyTwN3s/Uo1y8nHECnI/AAAAAAAADMQ/3AUOXFMpKJ0/s1600/11-P1090620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-emolpyTwN3s/Uo1y8nHECnI/AAAAAAAADMQ/3AUOXFMpKJ0/s400/11-P1090620.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our gourd turkey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rTweSmIJ1JA/Uo1y9gO3m9I/AAAAAAAADMg/QpASmZwFahg/s1600/18-P1090635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rTweSmIJ1JA/Uo1y9gO3m9I/AAAAAAAADMg/QpASmZwFahg/s400/18-P1090635.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite blocks from the quilt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Until Next Time, </div>
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /></div>
</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-24881176606554680122013-10-26T11:40:00.002-04:002013-10-26T11:43:33.579-04:00Hollow Thunder :: Author Spotlight with Nicole R. Ordway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iImhEnEH7dQ/Umvg3EnETDI/AAAAAAAADJ0/6xsf8PCpbaI/s1600/2-P1090388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="610" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iImhEnEH7dQ/Umvg3EnETDI/AAAAAAAADJ0/6xsf8PCpbaI/s640/2-P1090388.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today is a rare treat for me on the blog. I get to connect you all with a good book from an old college friend, Nicole R. Ordway. It's like I get to play matchmaker, and who doesn't love that?</span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid--32d486d-f2ef-0d50-34d6-f198293d08dc"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid--32d486d-f2ef-0d50-34d6-f198293d08dc"><br /></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid--32d486d-f2ef-0d50-34d6-f198293d08dc">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid--32d486d-f2ef-0d50-34d6-f198293d08dc"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am alway so happy to celebrate the successes of old friends. I know I have mentioned my alma mater, CNU, a few times here. Nicole and I were lucky enough to take Latin with Dr. Pollio (<i>who by the way is an amazing professor. He even can make you excited about and enjoy Latin!</i>) as well as a few Classics and History courses together. We were 2 of the 3 Nicoles in that class. The other being my friend Nicole Link (who happens to now to encapsulate placentas in Richmond- and did Brynna's for me!) Thanks to good old social media we've been able to keep in touch, so I was thrilled to see she has self published her first novel, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hollow-Thunder-Nicole-R-Ordway/dp/149351072X/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hollow Thunder</a></i>. </span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid--32d486d-f2ef-0d50-34d6-f198293d08dc">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I digress... I had a chance to chat with Nicole a bit about her book and writing. Here it is! </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So Nicole, tell us briefly about yourself and your new book!</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Writing has been my passion at least since middle school, and probably longer than<br class="kix-line-break" />that. I say probably because my memory’s made of Swiss cheese: full of holes!<br class="kix-line-break" />While studying for my BA in English, I always told myself that ideally I’d get<br class="kix-line-break" />published but I’d better have another plan in place instead; I actually laughed<br class="kix-line-break" />at the people who were there getting a degree with the single purpose of being<br class="kix-line-break" />published novelists. I realize now that they were simply charging ahead on a<br class="kix-line-break" />trail after their dream and lifelong goal, rather than not trusting enough in<br class="kix-line-break" />their abilities to put the horns down. Careful Capricorn doesn’t get there<br class="kix-line-break" />quickly, but we get there in the end. I finished and polished my novel and<br class="kix-line-break" />submitted it to about fifty agents before I met Dave Lee with Hatton Cross<br class="kix-line-break" />Steampunk (HCS) Publishing. He hadn’t finished more than the first two pages of<br class="kix-line-break" />Hollow Thunder before he forwarded my manuscript to his editor-in-chief with<br class="kix-line-break" />high praise. Boom – the rockets were lit and off we went.</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He’s the one who first described Hollow Thunder as a “colonial paranormal.” It’s set in a time period based off 18</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> century Colonial America, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end. To quote off the back cover: “When six rebels – William and Richard Cooper; Lady Claire and Sir Thomas Scott; and Matthew Hatter and Anne Tybbot – set out to assassinate the Royal Governor and take control over the colony, their carefully laid plan disintegrates rapidly into a struggle for survival. But who can you trust when everyone has their secrets to keep and their agendas to fulfill?”</span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>There’re betrayals, blood-shed, strategies, brief flickers of love, brotherly loyalty, questions of identity, a psychic and a werewolf! I’d say there’s something for everyone, which wasn’t the intent necessarily but I love how it turned out.</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What was your favorite part about writing your book? The most challenging?</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>My favorite part was when I’d read back over bits for editing (or to remind myself<br class="kix-line-break" />what I’d written, since the whole thing took about eight years to compose all<br class="kix-line-break" />together) and I’d get completely sucked back in. I’d find myself wanting to<br class="kix-line-break" />know what would happen next – and I wrote it! It was those moments that really<br class="kix-line-break" />kept encouraging me to not give up on it.</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>The most challenging part was overcoming procrastination inclinations. I kept saying to myself “I know I need to write some tonight, but I’ll work on it more tomorrow,” but a book never gets finished if you don’t write it! There’s a quote from Jim Butcher (author of the Dresden Files series) that has really helped me out in moments like that: “Put your Butt In the Chair and start writing. Period. No excuses. There is no substitute for BIC time. It's part of the price you pay.” So true.</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">· <br class="kix-line-break" />Where did you draw inspiration for your book from?</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>The initial inspiration for my book came from Shield’s Tavern in Williamsburg, VA.<br class="kix-line-break" />There is a wine/storage cellar in that restaurant where you can sit to eat, and<br class="kix-line-break" />it’s lit only by electronic candles and lanterns and the wood-burning<br class="kix-line-break" />fireplaces. It’s full of rough-hewn tables and wood-slat chairs with woven<br class="kix-line-break" />grass and layers of leather for seats. When my folks and I sat down there to<br class="kix-line-break" />have lunch while visiting Colonial Williamsburg, I had the notion of a group of<br class="kix-line-break" />Revolutionaries meeting together in secret to plot a rebellion…readers will<br class="kix-line-break" />recognize the opening scene and first chapter from Hollow Thunder here. The<br class="kix-line-break" />whole book was born from that experience.</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">· <br class="kix-line-break" />Do you have a favorite character?</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Hahaha, that’s not a fair question! Do you have a favorite child? All of my characters<br class="kix-line-break" />have quirks that I love about them and which endear them to me…even when you<br class="kix-line-break" />just want to smack them in the face sometimes. No, I don’t have a favorite<br class="kix-line-break" />character, but I encourage my readers to choose their own.</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">· <br class="kix-line-break" />Is there a special place that inspires you when writing?</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I generally am inspired the most when writing at home or parked somewhere in the woods,<br class="kix-line-break" />anywhere away from people really, but in Hollow Thunder’s particular case the<br class="kix-line-break" />setting of Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, VA, is a big inspiration for<br class="kix-line-break" />me. There are many little spots in that town which foster a quiet and<br class="kix-line-break" />inspirational atmosphere for writing about the 18</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> century.</span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">· <br class="kix-line-break" />Can we expect more books in the future?</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Absolutely! I am currently working on several projects all at once: a sequel to Hollow<br class="kix-line-break" />Thunder; a steampunk novel called Shiprat; a collection of short stories about<br class="kix-line-break" />shape-shifters from various folklores called All Vox of Life (yep, that’s a<br class="kix-line-break" />Latin pun); and I’m trying to get my completed children’s book published. It’s<br class="kix-line-break" />meant to be a picture book, and it’s called Max’s Empty Dish.</i></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where is your book available for purchase?</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>As of right now, Hollow Thunder is available through CreateSpace as a paperback novel. In a few days of this writing, it will be available on Amazon.com and I’m also working on creating a Kindle version of it which should be out soon. In about mid-November it will also be available at Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million.</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So my dear friends, there you have it! Please check out Nicole's book. You can purchase it directly</span><a href="https://www.createspace.com/4476628" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> here</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and from Amazon</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hollow-Thunder-Nicole-R-Ordway/dp/149351072X/" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> here</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. If you want to keep up to date with Nicole and her writing, you can also find her on Facebook</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hollowthunder" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> here</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and her blog is</span><a href="http://hollowthunder.tumblr.com/" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> here</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Supporting independent authors is a good cause and it's incredibly tough to self publish. Not to mention, Hollow Thunder is great read, I just got my copy a few days ago and I can't put it down! </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh and last but not least, Nicole doesn't have any dirt on me and isn't forcing me to do this for her, ha! Hollow Thunder is genuinely a gripping novel and Nicole is a talented playwright and author. Praise is given where it's deserved, and this is well deserved here! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Macte virtute! Factum optime Nicole!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RErvhHjY0RU/Umvg2tfcNaI/AAAAAAAADJw/p3ASgbxw7h8/s1600/1-P1090387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="547" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RErvhHjY0RU/Umvg2tfcNaI/AAAAAAAADJw/p3ASgbxw7h8/s640/1-P1090387.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 15px;">Until Next Time,</span></div>
</span></span></div>
</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-89423794464197699922013-10-23T06:30:00.000-04:002013-10-25T23:40:07.471-04:00Owl Learnings at Maymont Estate <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="”right”">
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nsddJIT-cvA/UmMy-YS6KpI/AAAAAAAADHs/cECeLz6McmI/s1600/83-P1090349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nsddJIT-cvA/UmMy-YS6KpI/AAAAAAAADHs/cECeLz6McmI/s640/83-P1090349.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonas identifying the Barred Owl in our field guide on Owls. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L9396M58ddE/UmMy_Ao9O5I/AAAAAAAADHw/pWbeolClI4Y/s1600/84-P1090350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L9396M58ddE/UmMy_Ao9O5I/AAAAAAAADHw/pWbeolClI4Y/s640/84-P1090350.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was sleeping but after we were there alone with him for about ten minutes he woke up and stared at DD after she hooted at him!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some days are just idyllic. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our little trip to <a href="https://www.maymont.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Maymont </a>was one of those. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It is days like that which make homeschooling so very worth it on a personal level. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I know mentally that this is the right choice for us. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I know that scientifically this type and way of learning is nonpareil for my children at this age. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But sometimes we need proof and an anchor point for all that mental data. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I can cite you article after article about why hands on and project based learning is amazing. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Or why Waldorf really works. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But then to see it in front of me, really hits home. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I mean how many kids, after learning about Owls, get to go see them up close and study them?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I certainly won't forget this anytime soon and I doubt my kids will either. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
~</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This trip was a great conclusion to our owl theme. I highly recommend a visit to Maymont if you're in Virginia. It is free, but they suggest a small donation. We spent about 3 hours there and only got through 1/4 of the estate. It took us a little under an hour to get there. They have tons of animals, a children's farm, a nature center, the estate itself, and just beautiful grounds. Stunning. I have lived in Virginia my whole life and I am just shocked that I had never been here before.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I will be back in this place a little later this week to share a new book with you as well as our pumpkin trip and some bat crafts. I just still can't get over how lovely of a day we had. I just love this time in our lives. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #9c8a85; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;">PS: I am linking up with Linda at </span><a href="http://www.naturalsuburbia.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #79d3bf; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Natural Suburbia</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #9c8a85; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;"> Nicole S at </span><a href="http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #79d3bf; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Frontier Dreams</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #9c8a85; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;">, and Carrie at </span><a href="http://craftymomsshare.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #79d3bf; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Crafty Moms Share</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #9c8a85; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;">. These are also some of my favorite blogs so hop over for a look! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rwzCSuWiP8I/UmMy-DT2sBI/AAAAAAAADHo/Kst_CMa2aQ4/s1600/81-P1090347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="590" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rwzCSuWiP8I/UmMy-DT2sBI/AAAAAAAADHo/Kst_CMa2aQ4/s640/81-P1090347.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recording her observations in her nature journal (which also happens to be her main lesson book this year)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ED09Cgrm484/UmMy1fUfbII/AAAAAAAADGs/-SuV-I8_n_A/s1600/66-P1090331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ED09Cgrm484/UmMy1fUfbII/AAAAAAAADGs/-SuV-I8_n_A/s640/66-P1090331.jpg" width="552" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wrt6O715ki0/UmMy3jbVlhI/AAAAAAAADG8/yX79581rD2Y/s1600/69-P1090334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wrt6O715ki0/UmMy3jbVlhI/AAAAAAAADG8/yX79581rD2Y/s640/69-P1090334.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SnojzDLYmCc/UmMy4nTOe4I/AAAAAAAADHE/nyntDxNTOis/s1600/71-P1090337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SnojzDLYmCc/UmMy4nTOe4I/AAAAAAAADHE/nyntDxNTOis/s640/71-P1090337.jpg" width="610" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UXHuDWyzReI/UmMy8pBzl0I/AAAAAAAADHg/wcU6s2cC_ss/s1600/76-P1090342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UXHuDWyzReI/UmMy8pBzl0I/AAAAAAAADHg/wcU6s2cC_ss/s640/76-P1090342.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gb7Pkv0Cs38/UmMy2SwY_uI/AAAAAAAADG0/-k8KfRwvLkQ/s1600/68-P1090333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gb7Pkv0Cs38/UmMy2SwY_uI/AAAAAAAADG0/-k8KfRwvLkQ/s640/68-P1090333.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nZjVK934Tys/UmMy6sxkHcI/AAAAAAAADHQ/0dSHtUeQ7_U/s1600/77-P1090343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="506" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nZjVK934Tys/UmMy6sxkHcI/AAAAAAAADHQ/0dSHtUeQ7_U/s640/77-P1090343.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E3xk4eslbao/UmMy_yVRkLI/AAAAAAAADIA/WSoymB895g0/s1600/85-P1090351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E3xk4eslbao/UmMy_yVRkLI/AAAAAAAADIA/WSoymB895g0/s640/85-P1090351.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-htek-Jhb2oE/UmMzAxVOFyI/AAAAAAAADIM/_ywjy3GErOg/s1600/87-P1090353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-htek-Jhb2oE/UmMzAxVOFyI/AAAAAAAADIM/_ywjy3GErOg/s640/87-P1090353.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Swx_-9PBMO8/UmMzBHxejuI/AAAAAAAADIE/0ZqgzvnaoyY/s1600/89-P1090356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Swx_-9PBMO8/UmMzBHxejuI/AAAAAAAADIE/0ZqgzvnaoyY/s640/89-P1090356.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aIvwo5xpomw/UmMzGE5vKFI/AAAAAAAADIw/D5k4eHRpPq4/s1600/95-P1090361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aIvwo5xpomw/UmMzGE5vKFI/AAAAAAAADIw/D5k4eHRpPq4/s640/95-P1090361.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BskAIG5y6ng/UmMzEaM25iI/AAAAAAAADIo/HMovpEQI6kE/s1600/96-P1090363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BskAIG5y6ng/UmMzEaM25iI/AAAAAAAADIo/HMovpEQI6kE/s640/96-P1090363.jpg" width="548" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Until next time-</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Love and Light,</i></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-67847757382074851842013-10-20T06:30:00.000-04:002013-10-25T23:39:31.560-04:00Wise Old Owl Crafting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="”right”">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1UbWegeQky8/UmMyvB7E6ZI/AAAAAAAADGE/QVelU2DL8og/s1600/18-P1090275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1UbWegeQky8/UmMyvB7E6ZI/AAAAAAAADGE/QVelU2DL8og/s640/18-P1090275.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The wise old owl sat on the oak<br />The more he heard, the less he spoke<br />The less he spoke, the more he heard<br />Why aren't we more like that wise bird?</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wCenn0UhgYQ/UmM0_hRzWhI/AAAAAAAADJA/g3bGd23tTAo/s1600/1-2013-10-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="490" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wCenn0UhgYQ/UmM0_hRzWhI/AAAAAAAADJA/g3bGd23tTAo/s640/1-2013-10-19.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are very easy to make. The only thing I did was hot glue the wood disk to the base of the pinecone and the kids did the rest! Watering down your glue and using paint brushes for it helped get in all the pinecone crevices. We also had toothpicks on hand to stuff the fluff in.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7zVx7BEJjGU/UmMywGuu_eI/AAAAAAAADGM/btztxRnYaMQ/s1600/21-P1090279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7zVx7BEJjGU/UmMywGuu_eI/AAAAAAAADGM/btztxRnYaMQ/s640/21-P1090279.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I highly recommend all of these owl books for ages 3-6!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We've had a fun week here in the Kleemann household! Despite more tummy bugs and still some job stress, things keep on going. I find during these more uncertain times that sticking to our family rhythm helps keep stress down and promotes peace. At least it does for me. I also find that when I am more at peace, so are the children. So it's a win-win! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We're getting close to the end of October, so we're about to switch our monthly animal from owls to bats. Since Halloween is this month the kids asked to do an extra spooky animal. I was happy to comply and we settled on bats, however I did gently remind them that bats aren't really spooky at all! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Primarily this week we focused on Owls during circle time, versus pumpkins and trees. I read and told lots of owl stories (I have had them all month in our school book bin, but this was the first time I introduced them to circle time). Our crafts this week were also owl themed. I have been trying to use more '<i>found</i>' materials in our crafts, so owl pinecones fit in perfectly. The kids then were able to use their owls during circle time to help act out our littlest owl play and an owl paid a visit to Sylvie from "Pumpkin Moonshine"- our monthly book. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We also made toilet paper roll owls and of course carved - or drilled- an owl pumpkin! I was pretty proud of how our pumpkin turned out. It was a neat way to combine both of our monthly themes. (If you're new or curious about how we homeschool and use monthly themes as well as project based learning- there posts <a href="http://dotingondeirdre.blogspot.com/2013/08/right-now-homeschool-planning.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://dotingondeirdre.blogspot.com/2013/10/pumpkins-owls-and-bats-oh-my.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://dotingondeirdre.blogspot.com/2013/08/good-morning-autumn-summer-good-night.html" target="_blank">here</a> might help fill you in a bit!)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Since the beginning of the month, we have visited the Virginia Living Museum 2 times a week to go observe their Eastern Screech Owl and write about him in our main lesson book. For circle time this month we have a Screech Owl puppet too (the kids named him 'Woodsy') so Woodsy tags along on these trips too. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I will be back in this place tomorrow for the other half to this post. We also took a special field trip to go see some more owls up close and personal. I can't wait to share!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you want to see more owl and pumpkin crafty goodness, I have 2 Pinterest boards dedicated to them <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/dotingondeirdre/pumpkin-theme/" target="_blank">here </a>and <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/dotingondeirdre/owl-bat-theme/" target="_blank">here</a>. I use Pinterest a lot to help me organize homeschool ideas, project based learning plans, and themes. They might be helpful for you too, so feel free to use them. I am happy to share.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #9c8a85; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;">PS: I am linking up with Linda at </span><a href="http://www.naturalsuburbia.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #79d3bf; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Natural Suburbia</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #9c8a85; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;"> Nicole S at </span><a href="http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #79d3bf; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Frontier Dreams</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #9c8a85; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;">, and Carrie at </span><a href="http://craftymomsshare.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #79d3bf; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Crafty Moms Share</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #9c8a85; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;">. These are also some of my favorite blogs so hop over for a look! </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DYCfv8LIk1c/UmMy07hwltI/AAAAAAAADGo/x5UvgtHzzro/s1600/65-P1090329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DYCfv8LIk1c/UmMy07hwltI/AAAAAAAADGo/x5UvgtHzzro/s640/65-P1090329.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7iEdiMEDtLw/UmM1mraQb1I/AAAAAAAADJI/5FiJHYfcBMc/s1600/1-2013-10-191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="490" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7iEdiMEDtLw/UmM1mraQb1I/AAAAAAAADJI/5FiJHYfcBMc/s640/1-2013-10-191.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To trace the outline on I used a toothpick and poked small holes into the outline. Then I drilled! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X3Ih8vJ4Sms/UmM2Z2GYR_I/AAAAAAAADJQ/uIIuyN2MWlc/s1600/1-2013-10-192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="490" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X3Ih8vJ4Sms/UmM2Z2GYR_I/AAAAAAAADJQ/uIIuyN2MWlc/s640/1-2013-10-192.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss B thought she was hot stuff climbing up to the big table and making her own craft!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Do you have any owl crafts of your own? Please comment and share for the rest of us to see!</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cheers!</div>
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /></div>
</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2Yorktown, VA, USA37.2387556 -76.50967309999998637.2260456 -76.52992909999999 37.251465599999996 -76.489417099999983tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-86229282104414760472013-10-14T06:30:00.000-04:002013-10-15T22:51:50.303-04:00Family Time :: The Peninsula Fine Arts Center (& Why Art Matters)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="”right”">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0GihLOUxxC8/UltKxGxxCpI/AAAAAAAADEk/o7O3Yb0YZnc/s1600/07-P1090197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0GihLOUxxC8/UltKxGxxCpI/AAAAAAAADEk/o7O3Yb0YZnc/s640/07-P1090197.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VQhgqm6GBw4/UltKvXp3JQI/AAAAAAAADEQ/JKiUDEczFcQ/s1600/01-P1090183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VQhgqm6GBw4/UltKvXp3JQI/AAAAAAAADEQ/JKiUDEczFcQ/s640/01-P1090183.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AOdtiNu_q8M/UltKz90RH_I/AAAAAAAADFE/zVgU-T2q7_w/s1600/1-P1090186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AOdtiNu_q8M/UltKz90RH_I/AAAAAAAADFE/zVgU-T2q7_w/s640/1-P1090186.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Mister J and I had some Mommy one on one time the other Saturday. Our wonderful local Arts Center, <a href="http://www.pfac-va.org/" target="_blank">PFAC</a>, has free weekends once a month so I had pre-planned on going.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pfac-va.org/" target="_blank">PFAC </a>has rotating themed exhibits. The one we saw was "Aquatic" which was perfect for Jonas since he is such an ocean and shark lover. Then in the back of the center the have their "Hands on Art" kids center.<br />
<br />
It is chock full of art books, manipulatives, art games, art puzzles, craft materials (that you're free to use), and more.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mIMVCRwKlNo/UltKvdTzQTI/AAAAAAAADEY/0HDKTJN-9GI/s1600/02-P1090184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mIMVCRwKlNo/UltKvdTzQTI/AAAAAAAADEY/0HDKTJN-9GI/s640/02-P1090184.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3W5Qt7paWbE/UltKvA_L7dI/AAAAAAAADEM/Mwho5asOTJ8/s1600/04-P1090193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3W5Qt7paWbE/UltKvA_L7dI/AAAAAAAADEM/Mwho5asOTJ8/s640/04-P1090193.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pvLFpvLZPMw/UltKylzGDQI/AAAAAAAADE4/DqfJYTvz2TA/s1600/05-P1090194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pvLFpvLZPMw/UltKylzGDQI/AAAAAAAADE4/DqfJYTvz2TA/s640/05-P1090194.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wBieYDs-j30/UltKwt3kL6I/AAAAAAAADEo/GvRQaTrvXMU/s1600/06-P1090195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wBieYDs-j30/UltKwt3kL6I/AAAAAAAADEo/GvRQaTrvXMU/s640/06-P1090195.JPG" width="628" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-br2cAGuj1ME/UltK1TAgQII/AAAAAAAADFY/HTndLWQYT0Y/s1600/08-P1090199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-br2cAGuj1ME/UltK1TAgQII/AAAAAAAADFY/HTndLWQYT0Y/s640/08-P1090199.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lwBsQT9dO4A/UltKy76bOrI/AAAAAAAADE0/U8G_rvNuBOk/s1600/09-P1090200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lwBsQT9dO4A/UltKy76bOrI/AAAAAAAADE0/U8G_rvNuBOk/s640/09-P1090200.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
As you can see from above we made full use of all of their goodies. Jonas is a block and puzzle lover so he gravitated toward those first. Then he spied the art supplies and was off. He pulled out various pieces and decided he'd make a dinosaur puppet. All on his own. <i>No prompting</i>. I love how they just stock lots of open ended materials and let the kids decide what to make.<br />
<br />
I also loved it because I could just be one on one with him. My older kids have to share me a lot because of Miss B. Which is fine and is just the life stage we're in but I still try to make a point to have Mommy dates.<br />
<br />
Another reason why I enjoyed this trip so much was that Jonas got to be totally immersed in art. His creativity was unhindered. There was no agenda. He was able to freely express himself and had multiple mediums to do so.<br />
<br />
I've been reading and researching a bit more on child development and more specifically differences between boys and girls.<br />
<br />
In particular earlier on boys tend to be weaker when it comes to fine motor skills, which seems be related to how boy's parietal lobes process sensitive tactile data. At times this can deter them from certain art mediums. Boys also learn best experientially at a young age due to the amount of grey matter boys have in their brains which makes their brains less able to multitask. Having lots of manipulatives out and keeping verbal instructions to a minimum are best. <a href="http://gurianinstitute.com/boys-and-girls-learn-differently/" target="_blank">(Gurian 124)</a><br />
<br />
So with that in mind art matters quite a bit. No only does it encourage boys to use fine motor skills in fun and engaging ways, which then helps build up their parietal lobe, but it also allows them to learn experientially and hands on. I think most importantly is that- for both boys and girls- art is a whole brain activity, like music. All hemispheres are being stimulated when kids are allowed to make art in an open ended environment with minimal direction. <a href="http://wholebrainchild.com/" target="_blank">Plus since our brain is a muscle</a>, when little ones are using all of it- their brains are getting a workout, <i>in a good way</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1W7Xm1ALM20/UltK1JGDBuI/AAAAAAAADFI/y9OPHu6Yl4g/s1600/10-P1090201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1W7Xm1ALM20/UltK1JGDBuI/AAAAAAAADFI/y9OPHu6Yl4g/s640/10-P1090201.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2n2X-58IoZo/UltK102FheI/AAAAAAAADFQ/q_3H39mtOZo/s1600/11-P1090203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2n2X-58IoZo/UltK102FheI/AAAAAAAADFQ/q_3H39mtOZo/s640/11-P1090203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YrkuYRJqPvo/UltK2uBFyCI/AAAAAAAADFk/RoVkRMfAClY/s1600/12-P1090207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YrkuYRJqPvo/UltK2uBFyCI/AAAAAAAADFk/RoVkRMfAClY/s640/12-P1090207.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
So all in all it was a great day. We had fun. We slowed down and enjoyed one another. Moreover Jonas got to do something he loves and that consequently gave his little brain a workout, and he didn't even know it!<br />
<br />
If you're ever in Newport News, check out PFAC! Admission is cheap and it's worth it just on the money you'll save on art supplies. Plus there's a gorgeous park and trail nearby and a neat wooden playground right next door.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i>
<i>Ps: Linking up this week with my dear friend Nicole at <a href="http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Frontier Dreams</a> for Keep Calm and Craft On!</i><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Love & Light,</i></div>
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /></div>
</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-78844401190781691522013-10-12T06:30:00.000-04:002013-10-12T15:09:40.400-04:00Apple Traditions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IHive5f9cfg/UljBGpfmEXI/AAAAAAAADCY/Dmzd26-sLE0/s1600/13-P1090152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IHive5f9cfg/UljBGpfmEXI/AAAAAAAADCY/Dmzd26-sLE0/s640/13-P1090152.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-deTH_BPkA6Q/UljBVQ5CFsI/AAAAAAAADCg/Vjz4Y0qImLU/s1600/04-P1090125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-deTH_BPkA6Q/UljBVQ5CFsI/AAAAAAAADCg/Vjz4Y0qImLU/s640/04-P1090125.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9rpkoP997EA/UljBWZNon9I/AAAAAAAADCw/rQsmKioZiHY/s1600/08-P1090133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9rpkoP997EA/UljBWZNon9I/AAAAAAAADCw/rQsmKioZiHY/s640/08-P1090133.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9U8iODfLTOo/UljBYdBpkyI/AAAAAAAADDA/DYwsQ0i8Hjk/s1600/12-P1090150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9U8iODfLTOo/UljBYdBpkyI/AAAAAAAADDA/DYwsQ0i8Hjk/s640/12-P1090150.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fZv6vVo4HaM/UljBaHiBUsI/AAAAAAAADDc/St7em3m0rCM/s1600/14-P1090154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="552" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fZv6vVo4HaM/UljBaHiBUsI/AAAAAAAADDc/St7em3m0rCM/s640/14-P1090154.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i_7WH01L1zc/UljBaCaoirI/AAAAAAAADDU/rEpmbdtEGcc/s1600/15-P1090166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i_7WH01L1zc/UljBaCaoirI/AAAAAAAADDU/rEpmbdtEGcc/s640/15-P1090166.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RGD4bfqcHvI/UljBZwxn_iI/AAAAAAAADDQ/ST6aGQmJ5F8/s1600/16-P1090181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RGD4bfqcHvI/UljBZwxn_iI/AAAAAAAADDQ/ST6aGQmJ5F8/s640/16-P1090181.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
This year was our 4th year going apple picking and our 3rd year picking at Carter Mountain. The first two years that we picked there, we went with my best friend Anya and her kiddos. Ironically both times we went one of us was pregnant. Yeah we're just kinda crazy like that. We did co-op together for 2 years as well. She moved this past summer to Northern VA- so she's about 2 1/2 hours away. Which just bites, but it could be worse. My other best friend Courtney lives in NY, which is even harder. Gah. But I digress. While I had a great time picking, needless to say, I missed my friends.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I wanted to pick sooner in the month but the apples took longer to ripen this year. So we ended our month of September with apple picking. It was nice to go and have the kids spouting off what they learned about apples or tellings stories about them. At one point Deirdre was convinced that she saw September and heard Mrs. Brambley sing- from our monthly book "Christopher's Harvest Time". </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OoQpx2btT2Q/UljBVefmYJI/AAAAAAAADCk/0jZo8tEHe5A/s1600/06-P1090131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OoQpx2btT2Q/UljBVefmYJI/AAAAAAAADCk/0jZo8tEHe5A/s640/06-P1090131.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gzikOe9ww00/UljBYQajgFI/AAAAAAAADDE/NN3kj6dcF4g/s1600/10-P1090140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gzikOe9ww00/UljBYQajgFI/AAAAAAAADDE/NN3kj6dcF4g/s640/10-P1090140.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0SG4wKMJTE0/UljBXSpZ_dI/AAAAAAAADC4/Wr6QRwfFL90/s1600/09-P1090138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0SG4wKMJTE0/UljBXSpZ_dI/AAAAAAAADC4/Wr6QRwfFL90/s640/09-P1090138.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jonas was no nonsense about picking. I think he ate close to 5 while we were there and then 2 more on the way home. That boy loves his fruit. Brynna on the other was in food heaven. She just kept gobbling up the apples happily. She immediately knew what we were doing and was more than happy to help pick and add to mama's basket, as well as sneak a few out! Deirdre was more fastidious. She wanted to save her apples for pie, candy apples, and applesauce. God bless her. She takes preserving our food seriously and worries about how much we'll have for the winter, ha! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Not that I don't. My goal has always been for the past few years when we go picking is to save as much as we can so we don't have to buy fruit out of season. I'd love to get to the point where we can pick all of our fruit but we're not there yet. We blew through our frozen cherries, strawberries and blackberries- even though I picked more than I ever have this past year. We have one big bag of frozen peaches left. We also have only 2 of the dozen jars of strawberry preserves left thanks to my sweet husband who I think has a jam addition. I mean who puts jam in their drinks?? Gah! That's what i get for cutting out juice. Oh and the blueberries didn't even last a month! Jonas broke into the freezer one night and polished off almost half a bag. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But we should have lots of apple goodies to help us through. We've already made apple pie, apple, pancakes, apple cobbler, and candy apple slices. The rest I have hidden for applesauce and butter! Both of which I make totally in my crockpot! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSCRXOuxtJQ/UljBjVwIK9I/AAAAAAAADDo/tloKYgG_NQY/s1600/1-P1090217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSCRXOuxtJQ/UljBjVwIK9I/AAAAAAAADDo/tloKYgG_NQY/s320/1-P1090217.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yTFhriMp3jU/UljBjlMFhQI/AAAAAAAADDs/83GXSYmkfmQ/s1600/2-P1090218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yTFhriMp3jU/UljBjlMFhQI/AAAAAAAADDs/83GXSYmkfmQ/s320/2-P1090218.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N0OeVagL9Ck/UljBj2tBBGI/AAAAAAAADDw/w5_A8UnrH4o/s1600/3-P1090219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N0OeVagL9Ck/UljBj2tBBGI/AAAAAAAADDw/w5_A8UnrH4o/s320/3-P1090219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>So how do you all make your applesauce or butter? Do you have Fall traditions each year? If so what are they? I'd love to know and share! Also I'd love to hear any nighttime photos tips you all might have. My nighttime photos alway looks so yuck!</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
PS: I am linking up with Linda at <a href="http://www.naturalsuburbia.com/" target="_blank">Natural Suburbia</a> Nicole S at <a href="http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Frontier Dreams</a>, and Carrie at <a href="http://craftymomsshare.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Crafty Moms Share</a>. These are also some of my favorite blogs so hop over for a look! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Until next time,</i></div>
</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5Carter Mountain, Blue Ridge, VA 24171, USA36.627914400000009 -80.30199959999998810.972842900000011 -121.78637459999999 62.282985900000007 -38.817624599999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-20754046954399041902013-10-07T06:30:00.000-04:002013-10-12T15:09:55.793-04:00Bringing Nature In :: Part III :: Flora and Fauna<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="”right”">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3rJxZqlKWxg/Uk9-UUVEu4I/AAAAAAAADBU/VM8nnQHU29o/s1600/3-2013-10-012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3rJxZqlKWxg/Uk9-UUVEu4I/AAAAAAAADBU/VM8nnQHU29o/s1600/3-2013-10-012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Linking up with my friend Nicole over at <a href="http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/2013/10/keep-calm-craft-on-crafting-on_8.html#idc-container" target="_blank">Frontier Dream's KCCO</a> this week! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is the third part of a series that I started writing about this past summer. The first part, about bringing nature into <a href="http://dotingondeirdre.blogspot.com/2013/06/bringing-nature-in-part-1-playroom.html" target="_blank">your child's play and playroom</a>, is going to make its way into the Autumn/Winter edition of Rhythm of the Home Magazine - so I apologize about not being able to view it right now due to publishing rights. The second part was on <a href="http://dotingondeirdre.blogspot.com/2013/06/bringing-nature-in-part-ii-our-waldorf.html" target="_blank">bringing nature into your child's bedroom</a>, or more specifically how we did it on our little ones' rooms (which I now- four months into the new room- can attest to its benefits!). And finally, I am on to this third part about bringing flora and fauna into your home, for your child's sake and your own. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JoGQiX_ynfo/UlIgxcdbR3I/AAAAAAAADB8/XpDy6D-chMQ/s1600/5-P1090105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JoGQiX_ynfo/UlIgxcdbR3I/AAAAAAAADB8/XpDy6D-chMQ/s320/5-P1090105.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our grumpy box turtle named "Toodles"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There's quite a few ways that you can bring flora and fauna in. One of the first ways we did it was by getting a few little critters. If you're like me at first you might be a bit iffy about this. <i>I was</i>. But any good naturalist will tell you- as well as <a href="http://richardlouv.com/books/last-child/" target="_blank">Richard Louv who wrote "Last Child In The Woods"</a>- that to be closer to nature you have to study and observe it. You have to have a personal connection with it. And one of the rites of passage of childhood and first connections for children come when they bring little critter indoors for a bit to watch them. They learn about them and learn to love them. That love will last them a lifetime. It will spark an interest in them the continue to grow and grow. They will start to see more fauna outdoors than before once they start bringing in critters. Now let me say that we don't allow in dangerous critters. No spiders or anything that we can't identify. No large critters. But we have adopted and released a baby bunny, a duckling, a gosling, a few baby birds- not fledglings, turtles, tadpoles, frogs, toads, lizards, and a myriad of bugs and butterflies. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MWUKJTK-HGI/UlIgxWE8GCI/AAAAAAAADB4/ImTNJqYe0GE/s1600/1-P1090093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MWUKJTK-HGI/UlIgxWE8GCI/AAAAAAAADB4/ImTNJqYe0GE/s320/1-P1090093.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Ribbit- our fire bellied toad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Currently we have a plestiodon- a skink with a blue tail, a itty bitty baby snapping turtle, and our permanent store bought pet toad- who eats live crickets so we also have a few dozen of those. We also have about 10-12 wood toads in our backyard and one grumpy box turtle who meanders about in my compost. Richard Louv related in his book how some of his earliest experiences with fauna shaped his love of nature inextricably later in life. He retells a funny story about saving turtles in the spring from being run over with his family in their pick-up and then keeping them all summer long in his backyard and then releasing them. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_oSfnQ5sQHE/Uk9-UKMfw6I/AAAAAAAADBQ/wzlbr5NgXMI/s1600/2-2013-10-011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_oSfnQ5sQHE/Uk9-UKMfw6I/AAAAAAAADBQ/wzlbr5NgXMI/s1600/2-2013-10-011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another way you can bring flora and fauna into your home is by keeping a nature tray or table. We keep a Waldorf nature table that reflects our month and season in the corner of our dining room. On it I have a small tray for our favorite bits of nature we collect. But now that the kids are older and we're learning about trees and their outdoor world in much more detail, lots of nature comes into the house. I need a place to put it all so we could touch it, identify it, draw it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EJmM5Z9XpTQ/UlIgvr9tA5I/AAAAAAAADBo/A0oqkuVdMzY/s1600/09-P1090087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EJmM5Z9XpTQ/UlIgvr9tA5I/AAAAAAAADBo/A0oqkuVdMzY/s320/09-P1090087.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our nature table mini tray</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So I opted for an old ruined roasting pan on a low bench next to our <a href="http://dotingondeirdre.blogspot.com/2013/09/creating-our-ateiler.html" target="_blank">Atelier</a>. The kids have corners for related pieces of nature that they find and divided up on their own. They love to just sit with this tray in their lap and their field guide in their hands trying to find which nut came from which tree. Does it look a little unkempt? Is it maybe an eyesore? Possibly. But the way I see it is that there is a finite time in my life that I will have 'eyesores' about. One day my house will be clean and consequently empty. I don't mind the clutter now, especially if the kids are relishing the experience and learning about their world. I am positive it will stay with them throughout theirs lives as it did with me. (So thanks Mom and Dad for buying me safety goggles and a hammer to cracks open rocks with!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1U9F3-Kf91w/UlIgwMNkuxI/AAAAAAAADBw/jWkl01fHpn8/s1600/14-P1090116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1U9F3-Kf91w/UlIgwMNkuxI/AAAAAAAADBw/jWkl01fHpn8/s320/14-P1090116.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nuts galore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wcqadL2mSys/Uk9-UanWxUI/AAAAAAAADBY/gPyCXdMDwFY/s1600/1-2013-10-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wcqadL2mSys/Uk9-UanWxUI/AAAAAAAADBY/gPyCXdMDwFY/s1600/1-2013-10-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Lastly this is another big one here for us. I love to grow our own food and garden. At every house I have lived at with a yard in the past 5 years, I have kept a garden- even when I still lived in an apartment/town house complex. That equals...4 gardens (as well as string of berry bushes). Also at the one place I lived at with no yard at all, I had a window herb garden! At first I wasn't used to gardening with kids. I remember in horror when a little toddler Deirdre (my oldest who is now almost 6) pulled up a tomato plant when I was weeding- she was trying to help! Kids love to garden. The gravitate to my garden. The love to eat the food they pick- even when they usually dislike it otherwise. It's crazy really. So making gardens kid friendly is a big deal for me. It makes my life easier and the kids have tons of fun. Plus all that yummy and beautiful goodness makes its way back into your home! It's another great way to bring nature in. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Currently we're only growing broccoli and cabbage- as well as our herbs. The kids each have their own special garden in a box, all to themselves since it's part of their school work. They water it, weed it, prune it. and decorate it. I have my big garden with the bulk of our plants in it. But it is also kid friendly. I have a path through it that is wide to they can walk on it and not be too caught up in stepping on something. I use hay mulch in the garden so they can clearly see what's a plant or a weed. They can sit in it and explore- or just relax. Right now they have been using it to hunt for trolls. They think trolls like cabbage :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I hope this gives you a few good ideas on how to bring more nature into your home. I cannot recommend Richard Louv's book enough. It's another one of those game changer books for me. It's right up there with Rahima Baldwin Dancy's, "You Are Your Child's First Teacher". Go read it! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>How do you already bring nature in? What critters do you have? How do you garden with the kids? I'd love to you, so please share! </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Also if you could please be thinking about my family and praying for us over the next few weeks, I'd be very grateful. A lot of changes are have happened at Craig's work and it's effected us quite a bit. So many things are uncertain. We all could use lots of wisdom, strength, and provision. </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;">PS: I am linking up with Linda at </span><a href="http://www.naturalsuburbia.com/" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Natural Suburbia</a><span style="text-align: center;"> Nicole S at </span><a href="http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Frontier Dreams</a><span style="text-align: center;">, and Carrie at </span><a href="http://craftymomsshare.blogspot.com/" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Crafty Moms Share</a><span style="text-align: center;">. These are also some of my favorite</span><span style="text-align: center;"> blogs so hop over for a look! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love and Light,</div>
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /></div>
</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0Yorktown, VA, USA37.2387556 -76.50967309999998637.2260456 -76.52992909999999 37.251465599999996 -76.489417099999983tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-71129001302411319502013-10-01T16:01:00.000-04:002013-10-18T23:14:00.358-04:00Pumpkins, Owls, and Bats, Oh My! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="”right”">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /><i>A wise old owl lived in an Oak</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The more he saw the less he spoke</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The less he spoke, the more he heard</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Why can't we be more like that wise old bird? </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LQv_p1BB_H0/UksoetXH0mI/AAAAAAAADAM/H1Ve_TT8h-g/s1600/08-P1090083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LQv_p1BB_H0/UksoetXH0mI/AAAAAAAADAM/H1Ve_TT8h-g/s640/08-P1090083.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5eXizQpbvGc/Uksod-RdMgI/AAAAAAAADAE/6abof9ByqvA/s1600/07-P1090082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5eXizQpbvGc/Uksod-RdMgI/AAAAAAAADAE/6abof9ByqvA/s640/07-P1090082.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our October Nature Table- or as we do it- our nature shelf</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DErL7bLuomk/UksodIZDqBI/AAAAAAAAC_4/dMFuyG-56-I/s1600/05-P1090079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DErL7bLuomk/UksodIZDqBI/AAAAAAAAC_4/dMFuyG-56-I/s640/05-P1090079.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0d-zCNEq94/UksoacBC8fI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/kwkvK3rqXkQ/s1600/01-P1090072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0d-zCNEq94/UksoacBC8fI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/kwkvK3rqXkQ/s640/01-P1090072.JPG" width="470" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sAWL9owXCKo/UksogLCNejI/AAAAAAAADAo/q1UaA10X9-E/s1600/11-P1090102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sAWL9owXCKo/UksogLCNejI/AAAAAAAADAo/q1UaA10X9-E/s640/11-P1090102.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonas' Mums are in full bloom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<br />
Happy October dear friends! I feel like an old record repeating myself but time really does fly. I am so thankful that I did my<a href="http://dotingondeirdre.blogspot.com/2013/08/right-now-homeschool-planning.html" target="_blank"> homeschooling planning</a> a season at a time or I wouldn't know what to do with myself now that its' October. Just like with each month we have a big monthly theme and then a monthly animal- or two- and a quarterly nature theme.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VSabjYJfIB8/UksogZ4hXUI/AAAAAAAADAs/pALTPFusTqs/s1600/12-P1090110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VSabjYJfIB8/UksogZ4hXUI/AAAAAAAADAs/pALTPFusTqs/s400/12-P1090110.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This month our big theme is PUMPKINS! We'll be reading pumpkin stories, doing pumpkin crafts, and my favorite- baking up a storm with our pumpkins. We also will be learning about owls and bats. With Halloween as our big festival this month I thought it was only appropriate to talk about bats too!<br />
<br />
We also are continuing on with our nature theme of trees and their leaves. So far we've identified all the trees in our neighborhood except for one. Ugh. Identifying trees can be tough. But so worth it. The kids now when we're driving around point out different trees that they recognize. But we aren't just learning the tree's names, we learn about the trees themselves. Like what animals like to eat beech nuts or what kinds of trees make good squirrel homes, or even what kinds of tree made the table we eat on? Or even, why are trees important? I swear we end up talking about trees and nature more than our theme most days, but that's a good thing I think! We read Gerda Muller's "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Around-Oak-Gerda-Muller/dp/0525452397" target="_blank">Around the Oak</a>" as a good anchor point to our tree learning.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WDwEwRPe5e8/UksocBuKxnI/AAAAAAAAC_s/r_I6wfUb66I/s1600/02-P1090073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WDwEwRPe5e8/UksocBuKxnI/AAAAAAAAC_s/r_I6wfUb66I/s400/02-P1090073.JPG" width="391" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonas is really into sharks right now</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I have had a few questions posted from time to time on the blog about books and reading in relation to Waldorf. It also is the most common question I get emailed about. Part of the way we homeschool is by using books. I think that there is a lot of confusion surrounding when Waldorf formally teaches reading and the use of books before that age. I personally don't have a problem with having books around. We have a separate reading area where we keep all of our books, except for a select few (maybe 7) that I display in the playroom. That way, they are not overwhelmed by books and it doesn't impede their play, which is their most important 'work' at this age- before 7.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NQrh-MMW56A/Uksod-PeyFI/AAAAAAAADAI/-sLtAeCMocM/s1600/06-P1090080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NQrh-MMW56A/Uksod-PeyFI/AAAAAAAADAI/-sLtAeCMocM/s400/06-P1090080.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our wise old owl and monthly books</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I do however read lots of books to the kids during the day, especially around our seasonal themes. During circle time I only read a page from our current month from Elsa Beskow's "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Around-Year-Elsa-Maartman-Beskow/dp/0863156487/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380656318&sr=1-1&keywords=around+the+year" target="_blank">Around the Year</a>" and from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Autumn-Board-Book-Gerda-Muller/dp/0863151914/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380656340&sr=1-1&keywords=autumn+by+muller" target="_blank">Gerda Muller's Seasonal books</a>, with no words. I usually have the kids take turns telling their own stories about Muller's book to us in circle time. The rest of the time we sing our monthly songs, and say our verses. Once I week I read our monthly book, which is "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pumpkin-Moonshine-Tasha-Tudor/dp/0689828462/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380656364&sr=1-1&keywords=pumpkin+moonshine" target="_blank">Pumpkin Moonshine</a>" for October. Then the rest of the week I tell different stories or do a puppet play based on our monthly book.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I2ydQlc-sxg/UksocCVfFMI/AAAAAAAAC_0/ykuutTmh-S4/s1600/04-P1090078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I2ydQlc-sxg/UksocCVfFMI/AAAAAAAAC_0/ykuutTmh-S4/s400/04-P1090078.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Gerda Muller Autumn book that the kids take turns reading to one another during circle time- It has no words. Next to it is a copy of our Autumn verse we're memorizing. I also knit up two new apples with Deirdre from the article we wrote together<a href="http://rhythmofthehome.com/2012/09/simple-knitted-apples/" target="_blank"> here for Rhythm of the Home magazine last year. </a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It's simple and it works for us. At bedtime I usually read one or two stories and then end with a long made up story about "David the Gnome" which I have been telling nightly for over 3 years now- WOW! The I end with a song and prayers.<br />
<br />
I am not sure if that answers any questions, but it does at least explain how we do school and circle time with books. I highly recommend "<a href="http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/rah-intro.html" target="_blank">The Read Aloud Handbook</a>" by Jim Trelease. It is not a Waldorf book but it is a very solid piece of good research and convicting stories about reading out loud to your kids and why it matters all the way up to high school. He also supports not formally teaching reading until age 6/7 or later. So he is indeed liked minded.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pHLPydFVPXE/UksocGC9EuI/AAAAAAAAC_w/FGe_KjOrbuE/s1600/03-P1090074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pHLPydFVPXE/UksocGC9EuI/AAAAAAAAC_w/FGe_KjOrbuE/s400/03-P1090074.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>How do you or don't you use books at home? What are you doing this October? I'd love to know! </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
PS: I am linking up with Linda at <a href="http://www.naturalsuburbia.com/" target="_blank">Natural Suburbia</a> Nicole S at <a href="http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Frontier Dreams</a>, and Carrie at <a href="http://craftymomsshare.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Crafty Moms Share</a>. These are also some of my favorite blogs so hop over for a look! </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love and Light,</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159623148345695836.post-90612450502616345602013-09-20T23:48:00.000-04:002013-10-12T15:10:34.706-04:00Preparing Our Hearts for Michaelmas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PDfXzvgp88g/Uj0R12PhrtI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/6regnc5mHLg/s1600/1-P1080960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PDfXzvgp88g/Uj0R12PhrtI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/6regnc5mHLg/s640/1-P1080960.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h3>
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> O<span style="background-color: white;"><i>h Saint Michael, God's great knight...</i></span><i><br /></i><i style="background-color: transparent;">Strong and pure and shining bright.</i><br /><i style="background-color: transparent;">I'll be a knight of Michael, too...</i><br /><i style="background-color: transparent;">And polish my crown to a golden hue.</i><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;">I'll</span><i style="background-color: transparent;"> polish by sword so fine and bright,</i><br /><i style="background-color: transparent;">And I will use it for the right.</i><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;">Drive</span><i style="background-color: transparent;"> evil away, I will try</i><br /><i style="background-color: transparent;">And protect those who are weaker than I.</i></span></h3>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i></i></span></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span></i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t9LiA2dygLc/Uj0R1btdF0I/AAAAAAAAC-U/ygu5gLOYnps/s1600/2-P1080961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t9LiA2dygLc/Uj0R1btdF0I/AAAAAAAAC-U/ygu5gLOYnps/s640/2-P1080961.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v6BpMx4q8i0/Uj0SKeXehSI/AAAAAAAAC-k/RguwhisGqn8/s1600/1-2013-09-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v6BpMx4q8i0/Uj0SKeXehSI/AAAAAAAAC-k/RguwhisGqn8/s640/1-2013-09-20.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We're beginning our transition here to our week of Michaelmas. I find it easier to spend a week on a festival rather than trying to pack it all into one day with littler ones. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The week long anticipation build up to the actual festival day is very special to watch in the children. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Michaelmas is a favorite festival of mine. Saint Michael holds special place in my heart. Around this time last year I was going through a very dark and rough spot. It felt as if evil were very near and present in my life. I spent much time in prayer thinking of Saint Michael and the victory that God had through him. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Taking this week to think over all that God has done and how God can use us to fight evil, as he did through Michael, is very empowering not only for me but also the children. Yes the festival is fun. Yes play acting dragons, angels, and knights is a good time. But the message behind all of this means so much more. It seeps into their being through this fun, beauty, and repetition. Knowing God's love, his power, and that evil has already be defeated touches all of our hearts. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It all leads well into our next big festival Martinmas and giving them a heart for others as Saint Martin had for the beggar. Michaelmas bids us to stand firm in God's victory over evil and Martinmas bids us to extend that victory in spirit to those who cannot do so for themselves. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So needless to say, we're excited for the 29th and the coming months of other festivals!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>How do you all celebrate Michaelmas? Or do you focus rather on the Harvest Moon? I'm interested to hear all your stories!</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Linking up with <a href="http://craftymomsshare.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Crafty Moms Share</a> and <a href="http://www.naturalsuburbia.com/" target="_blank">Natural Suburbia</a> and </i><i>Nicole at<a href="http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Frontier Dreams </a>this week! </i><i>! </i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Until next time,</div>
<img src="”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X9sVXJ698Gk/UfXagIuP3pI/AAAAAAAACv8/eEQIOahWZ3w/w289-h132-no/Signature5.jpg”" /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2