Category Archives: The Ranch Hands
Command Center
It's up! (mostly) Better yet – it's working. : ) Three cheers. Seriously I do cheer because as big of a deal it is to set up a home management system in the first place it is even more daunting to reinvent it every couple years in entirely new communities and homes.
One of the pins that jumped out at me some months ago was a manipulative system that would serve as an at-a-glance for the big rocks like dog care, piano practice, bedroom tidying, a focus chore, vitamins and the like. I loved this idea except my kitchen is not as cute and colorful and contemporary. Our kitchen isn't even actually the color it most likely will be once we paint. This was closer but was larger than my wall and more construction than I had oomph for.
In the end I kept the cookie sheet idea (less than $1 at Walmart) and left them unfinished since the wall is not repainted yet and it is right near the appliances which are steel. Kieran painted the letters to match. (Walmart too) Probably the sticker phrase might have been nice since the wall morphed into more than chores but this is done and done is good. And remember – we applaud and encourage kid work, versus improve upon it.
We bought a couple packs of plain wood discs and he painted those. I had putzed around on the computer making circle templates and typing the tasks out and then threw my hands up. Couldn't pick colors (see above). Then we were at Michael's and found the pack of chalkboard sheets for less than $10 and it was settled. (I am sorry I can't find them online to link) Instead of trays for individual people we have topical boards – menu, appointments, to do, chores. We got chalkboard paint for the discs since I clearly have commitment issues. And love my chalk pen. We put magnetic tape on the back of the discs so we can move them around the sheets.
While I am on an organization tear I have been listening to some podcasts and working on my binder some. Almost attended this conference online but life…I don't know how people with children listen to these things live. They need to broadcast between midnight and 6am for me to do that. I work days ; D I did listen to this motivational link from them on very early morning. Good stuff. Still, honestly I read faster than view. For me it has been counter-productive to join groups and forums so probably I will just continue to purchase written work from selected speakers.
It's funny to note after all these years of following the work of domestic "experts" that they tend to fall into some generally identifiable groups. There is the group that is very sober and serious about homemaking. Task oriented. Often virtue and vice are woven into the discussion and there is a moral overtone to the systems. It is serious business.
There is the chill group. The girls just wanna have fun. The mantra is that life is too short to spending housekeeping. The secret of happiness, they proclaim, is to Let it Go. Don't worry, be happy.
Then there is the marketing and productivity camp. Sort of hyper-productive. And perky. The mantra being LET'S DO ALL THE THINGS. Really fast. With good hair.
It helps to ascertain which camp has produced the materials or methods you are considering to be sure they mesh well with your personality, learning style, and wallet.
The most helpful resource I tapped into this week was Flylady's homeschool journal. Her stuff is so familiar it's comforting. And in this case free too! Of particular note were the before bed and daily routines lists. They are going to be incorporated into my command wall.
So that's all for now. Just a glimpse and random organizational thoughts as we rebuild our systems here.
Columbus Day (or when Dad is out of town)
The weekend has been full of the sort of adventures one can only have when the other parent is out of town. Some of you know exactly what that entails. : ) You can't always help the amping up but there are ways to help counter it. I was reading this snippet during a lull the other day. (I hope it pulls up. If not, or if you are intrigued it is from the much loved Simplicity Parenting book here) Basically he shares some stories of two rather excitable little people and how their very tuned-in mamas helped them not to hide from stimulation but to process it well.
With that in mind, let me begin again. It was a weekend of adventures with Dad gone, therefore there has very intentionally been some quieting activity woven in.
We finished up an experiment from Friday. We sat and did some hand sewing. (you will love!) Some of us drew along with this tutorial after our Columbus biography read aloud today. I think my 6yo (below) is a gosh honest art prodigy. But I digress.
My goal isn't to live in a serene bubble, but to keep a finger on the pulse of this house and its members to balance the physical and emotional debits and credits. Sometimes the sails tip more one way than the other but the ship rights itself in the end.
pssssst…
If Monday was insane and you did zero things for Columbus Day the holiday police will not arrest you if you decide to make the Santa Maria tomorrow. #permissiongranted
Franciscan Joy
We celebrated the feast of St. Francis climbing a mountain in the Uintah-Cache-Wasatch National Forest. Seemed fitting. The weather was mild, as was the incline. Perfect, one could say…unless you were Francis. He had another idea of what made for perfect joy. I have spent a good portion of my adult life meditating on this one short reflection. Few things have challenged me more.
I leave you with some fuzzy phone snaps of the forest and a very clear and convicting picture of joy…
"One day in winter, as St Francis was going with Brother Leo from Perugia to St Mary of the Angels, and was suffering greatly from the cold, he called to Brother Leo, who was walking on before him, and said to him: “Brother Leo, if it were to please God that the Friars Minor should give, in all lands, a great example of holiness and edification, write down, and note carefully, that this would not be perfect joy.”
A little further on, St Francis called to him a second time: “O Brother Leo, if the Friars Minor were to make the lame to walk, if they should make straight the crooked, chase away demons, give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, and, what is even a far greater work, if they should raise the dead after four days, write that this would not be perfect joy.”
Shortly after, he cried out again: “O Brother Leo, if the Friars Minor knew all languages; if they were versed in all science; if they could explain all Scripture; if they had the gift of prophecy, and could reveal, not only all future things, but likewise the secrets of all consciences and all souls, write that this would not be perfect joy.”
After proceeding a few steps farther, he cried out again with a loud voice: “O Brother Leo, thou little lamb of God! if the Friars Minor could speak with the tongues of angels; if they could explain the course of the stars; if they knew the virtues of all plants; if all the treasures of the earth were revealed to them; if they were acquainted with the various qualities of all birds, of all fish, of all animals, of men, of trees, of stones, of roots, and of waters – write that this would not be perfect joy.”
Shortly after, he cried out again: “O Brother Leo, if the Friars Minor had the gift of preaching so as to convert all infidels to the faith of Christ, write that this would not be perfect joy.”
Now when this manner of discourse had lasted for the space of two miles, Brother Leo wondered much within himself; and, questioning the saint, he said: “Father, I pray thee teach me wherein is perfect joy.” St Francis answered: “If, when we shall arrive at St Mary of the Angels, all drenched with rain and trembling with cold, all covered with mud and exhausted from hunger; if, when we knock at the convent-gate, the porter should come angrily and ask us who we are; if, after we have told him, ‘We are two of the brethren’, he should answer angrily, ‘What ye say is not the truth; ye are but two impostors going about to deceive the world, and take away the alms of the poor; begone I say’; if then he refuse to open to us, and leave us outside, exposed to the snow and rain, suffering from cold and hunger till nightfall – then, if we accept such injustice, such cruelty and such contempt with patience, without being ruffled and without murmuring, believing with humility and charity that the porter really knows us, and that it is God who maketh him to speak thus against us, write down, O Brother Leo, that this is perfect joy.
And if we knock again, and the porter come out in anger to drive us away with oaths and blows, as if we were vile impostors, saying, ‘Begone, miserable robbers! to the hospital, for here you shall neither eat nor sleep!’ – and if we accept all this with patience, with joy, and with charity, O Brother Leo, write that this indeed is perfect joy. And if, urged by cold and hunger, we knock again, calling to the porter and entreating him with many tears to open to us and give us shelter, for the love of God, and if he come out more angry than before, exclaiming, ‘These are but importunate rascals, I will deal with them as they deserve’; and taking a knotted stick, he seize us by the hood, throwing us on the ground, rolling us in the snow, and shall beat and wound us with the knots in the stick – if we bear all these injuries with patience and joy, thinking of the sufferings of our Blessed Lord, which we would share out of love for him, write, O Brother Leo, that here, finally, is perfect joy.
And now, brother, listen to the conclusion:
Above all the graces and all the gifts of the Holy Spirit which Christ grants to his friends, is the grace of overcoming oneself, and accepting willingly, out of love for Christ, all suffering, injury, discomfort and contempt; for in all other gifts of God we cannot glory, seeing they proceed not from ourselves but from God, according to the words of the Apostle, ‘What hast thou that thou hast not received from God? and if thou hast received it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?’ But in the cross of tribulation and affliction we may glory, because, as the Apostle says again, ‘I will not glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ Amen.”
– taken from Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Mermaids
September was chock full which is why I am here on the last day catching up. One of the highlights was the girls' neighbor friend's birthday party. We mostly do family parties at home so it was a real treat for them to go to an "official" party with friends. They began to plan as soon as they got the invitation in hand. That invitation was carried around and read and reread daily.
When we learned it was to be a mermaid party I knew exactly what we would bring. I have gone a little Pinterest crazy since returning the US. We saw this DIY mermaid play dough gift set months ago but things like "one small battery operated mermaid" or "aquarium fern" would completely sideline the project living overseas. Here, however, a stop into the Dollar Store netted most of what we needed.
The girls made no-bake play dough together. It worked.
Then we assembled the kit.
And….
Got their mermaid tails on. : )
If you were wondering if September was warm enough for a pool party in Utah the answer is oh yes. I am sure we will be done with winter long before it is actually over but summer has definitely hung on a loooong time.
If you are wondering if my life is magically blessed with oodles of spare time to DIY the answer is definitely not. It may have been smarter to purchase a gift and take one thing off our plates. It is important to me to teach the children that – when possible – it is a beautiful thing to put a little of yourself into a gift, no matter how imperfect and humble they turn out. It is NOT actually always possible to do this. Since we had a window of time one morning though, it was worth the effort.
all tied up
Weekend Reading
Sharing the inspiring and/or convicting things I have read and bookmarked lately. This was a catch up weekend. Much needed. This fiery cloud caught my eye just before sunrise the other day. It happened after a stormy night when there was a break in the clouds over the moutains behind us. The sun peeked through just for a moment and lit up this bit of the sky. By the time I set the camera down in the house again it was past and gray/blue skies prevailed again. Glad to have looked up. Always pays to look up. : )
On toys and too much of a good thing
What attachment parenting is not
On labeling and assessing fellow moms – let's don't (so good!)
Screentime and pediatric mental health (starting with the easy stuff)
On cheerless homes (from True Womanhood – a fave on my sidebar)
Babystepping your way to homeschool excellence
On handwriting and learning – or what the School Sisters knew 100 years ago
Real world means living in real time – kids brains
The answer is not on the screen
The little girls daily schedule is very gentle and undercommitted. (thank goodness!) Instead of a fixed list of activities we try to do a 'fun day' on a regular basis. This week we took them to the State Fair. It has been years since our last visit and they have no recall at all.
This was a perfect iconic fair day. Animals, exhibits, rides, and fair food. Fabulous break for all of us.
Thats my guy. Nope, you volunteered. You're stuck now. ; )
How I Spent My Summer Vacation – The Badlands
We are back to school officially and I am LOVING it. Now if I just had about 4 or 5 more hours in every day or if sleep were more optional than it is for me life would be pretty ideal. As it is, I make notes and compose posts that never see the screen because yeah…. sleep. Food. Sports.
Since I am this far behind I figured I could just roll all those unpublished summer posts into the ubiquitous back-to-school essay theme this week. The Badlands trip was incredible. Temperature and timing came together to make for a perfect visit that started out nicely enough and got better by the hour.
coming and going
That's my husband coming down street.
This is me saying, "Hey," sort of wistfully in passing. When my Gram was flustered she would say she didn't know if she was coming or going. We've got that goin' on all over right now with football practices and kids' jobs and college. After some strategy-by-text (ie: I am off work in five minutes. Where are you and which direction am I heading?) we divided up the late afternoon/early evening runs today.
Do I love this? No. Do I think kids need to run around this much? No, again. But it is what we have collectively decided was right for this particular season. We are all healthy and the sun is shining and this is NOT a bad way to suffer – as I remind myself when I pass my husband on the road.
We will all end up at the same place by day's end after all. Life is good.
Starry Sky Journal 