Blessed Martinmas! For those celebrating, here is a tale to enjoy! The Children of Oakrise and the Great Lantern Festival By Amber Hellewell A very long time ago, in a small village called Oakrise, there lived a small, but hearty people. Although they were no larger than the doves and chickadees, they were [...]
Before I moved to rural Michigan, the darkness and length of winter were alleviated by the lights and activity of the big city. We celebrated Candlemas with candle dipping and crafting and singing, and it was lovely. It was a sweet tradition, but I didn’t really understand why it had been observed for centuries. Our [...]
During the season of Advent I get caught between two extremes: a desire to cuddle up on my couch, surrounded by quilts and the entangled arms and legs of my children AND to miraculously deep clean my entire house, complete my resolutions from the beginning of the year, teach thoughtful/engaging/life changing lessons and create homemade [...]
Meet Nicola Piccola, one of the wonderful homeschool mothers that Has inspired me in my own journey. Nicola is an in tune and intentional mother who homeschools her children in Northern California. Her honesty in her posts has always resonated with me and I find myself wandering over to her blog when I need [...]
I really should have known better. It was 15 minutes into our day and the stress breathing had already begun. My youngest was exhausted, and the older two were wishing that at 8 in the morning they were anywhere but in the car. As we started off our new homeschool year calendar overstuffed with co-op [...]
Hello my dear friends and fellow creative mamas! I hope that this month finds you fully present in making wonderful memories with your family. Some of those memories will of course be of tantrums, messy houses and maybe a mama meltdown (or two!). But, hopefully it is being sprinkled in with lovely moments of nature, [...]
It was a normal homeschool morning. Train tracks and jammies were strewn across the floor, remnants of breakfast had yet to be put away and I was wearing my apron and my best “can do attitude. My mental pep talk was keeping me going. It probably sounded something like this: Ride that wave [...]
Dear Universe~ I don't need a fancy car, a new wedding ring or a dozen roses. Just send me an eternity of days just like this. Days of dandelions in mason jars, children playing happily outside, the brilliant breezes and colors of summer. Send us anywhere you need us to go, but let me keep [...]
Family learning has become our new favorite mode of schooling. I know that I am not alone in being overwhelmed by planning and presenting multiple lessons and themes that are perfectly tailored to each child. I know that when stress, lack of sleep and feelings of inadequacy collide I need to reevaluate my priorities [...]
It is beyond any sane person's bedtime right now. The dill filled potato salad I had for dinner was supposed to send me into a blissful, worry-free coma and yet here I am... Tomorrow I have what I think is a celebratory lunch with a future (maybe) employer. Should I be ecstatic? Part of me [...]
