A Bird in Hand

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M_chick

Meadowlark

"By having plenty of time in nature, by being raised in a peaceful and nurturing environment, in which there are plenty of opportunities to explore mud, water, sand, and sound, children will begin to form meaningful experiences upon which later scientific experiments and learning will be based. 

In contrast an early childhood experience which is overstimulating, full of noise, hustle and bustle, and the barrage of tv, videos, and computers dulls the senses and is antithetical to a development of qualities of awe and reverence."  – Donna Simmons

While riding her horse the other day Moira found a tiny meadowlark bouncing around in the pasture. She didn’t realize til she brought it to me that they nest on the ground so he was likely not far from home, nor in the danger he appeared to be.  She returned it to the general area she found it, but not before Mom got a picture. : )  And yes, she has gloriously dirty fingers from her morning tramping about on horseback and digging through our fields. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Awe and Reverence. Check!

a tisket, a tasket

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This post about vintage baskets struck a chord in me. I have a particular fondness for containers. <g> It must be a mother’s (or maybe a farmer’s) instinct to herd things into little groups. I pick up baskets, old and new, wherever I can lately. I gathered Brendan’s board books into this one:

Baby

The books we use for morning time are in here:

Morning_time

Diapering supplies are stored in a wide basket in the bathroom which somehow didn’t get in on the picture taking. Anyway, that one was a gift basket in its previous life.

I found some nice wire baskets while thrifting but they were a bit too new. The garish shiny steel finish was a no-go for me. The solution was found in a can of rust finish spray paint. Instant antiquity! They fit in much better now.

Wire Wire_fridge

I have a few more to work on. I picked  up a Jenny Lind baby crib and changing table for next to nothing last year. They matched our old cradle which admittedly is more useful for display than for baby. ; ) I decided to paint them all and found a few wicker baskets to paint in coordinating colors for storaging baby clothes right on the changing table. Stay tuned for that project. Well, don’t hold your breath though. I did mention I hatched this plan last YEAR, right? <g>

Oh heavens! You must see this…

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I saw some checked melamine in the new Country Living magazine (a must have subscription I am thinking!).  The CS Post and Company site which sells these beauties is a treasure trove of domestic lovelies.  Oh my.  Two words, girlfriends – Eye Candy! I think I have a weakness for primary colors (or secondary colors, or….)  I still get a rush opening the 64 crayon Crayola box.  But I digress. <g>  Check it out:

Cs4

Cs_1

Cs_3

What We’re Eating

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S20061023_pumpkinmuffins We made these Pumpkin Spice Muffins.  Well, sort of.  We made them with leftover mashed sweet potatoes instead of pumpkin and minus the glaze. But hey. ; )  I am doing something I NEVER do.  I am reading a food blog. And liking it. Honestly I am not a ‘foodie’.  Probably has to do with food allergies. I get bummed out when I get two thirds down the recipe list and discover foods I can neither eat nor substitute. Still this site is SO pretty. It makes me hungry just browsing. Never mind its chock full of nightshades. : P  Nor that the banter, honest and unpretentious as it may be, is a bit raunchier than most of us here would like to make a steady diet of. It is, never the less, a reeeeeally good distraction from conference planning. <g> Particularly distracting if you stare hard enough at the mango at the top and try to figure out how he got his features superimposed….. (or is it a papaya?  I told you, I am no foodie)

Oh and the muffins were darn tasty. We served them with "cream of green" soup for lunch. (leftover cauliflower, broc, and spinach in a white sauce base) You will have to take our word for it because the head cowhand here doesn’t do muffins.  His loss.

Inhale

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She is right, her new book makes you happy just to breathe the air. At least that was my impression after viewing the exerpt of Lady Lydia’s new book. I honestly think she could publish her grocery list and I would read it so refreshed am I by anything she pens. : )   The images she stirs up remind me of the stories in Mary Jane’s book.  Lady Lydia’s parent moved to the Alaskan wilderness at ages 19 and 23 and raised their 7 children there for 20 years. They built a log home by themselves. Imagine. 

Theresa I hope this encourages you as you embark on your Alaskan adventure!   

A Woman’s Place

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Sherry from the Lady of Virtue blog is a great encourager of mothers.  If you didnt see my plug a waaays back let me remind you why.  Fourteen children give you a bit of insight into the whole process. : ) She wrote a compelling post about mothers’ indispensibility and linked up to this article about women’s ministry. You could easily substitute women’s ministry with homeschooling ministry, charity work, career, you name it. Whatever the siren’s call is pulling women from their homes and planting the seeds of discontent.  What I hope women take from these articles is that our circumstances are not burdens to be overcome but blessings to embrace. There is an untold joy that comes from making ourselves small and humble and open to all life brings our way. There is untold sadness as well, when you realize how few others recognize and value this way of life.

*Just a note – my comments are moderated these days since the enviro-fiasco. I am not running for office, I am reading thoughtful articles and passing them on. Life is too short to bicker, y’all. Should you disagree please feel free to hit the delete button.  I say this with sincere kindness. Life IS too short to be wrapped around an axle. If what you see here does not edify you please do send it to the cyber rubbish bin.  : )