Polliwogs and Doodles

Trip to Kid Senses Science Museum

2012-01-06T21:20:00.001-08:00

After a rough week, having lost two of our dogs within days of each other, the kids and I decided to celebrate Epiphany (or Three Kings Day) with a getaway to Kids Senses Science Museum in Rutherfordton, NC. It is about a thirty minute drive from our place, not as far as the wise men traveled to Bethlehem, of course. And we rode in the station wagon, since camels are rather rare in these parts.

The first spectacle after paying admission is the fire truck room. There are buttons to make a siren sound and a spinning light.

Jude enjoys a cloth book in the Alphabet Trail playroom.

The silo beside the kid sized barn makes a great reading hideaway.

Jude can hold himself pretty high, and can roll over now, both ways.

Seth is holding a toy onion, which can be planted or harvested from the "garden". But of course, it's not an onion, it's a sword. And not just any sword, but the "He-man-Power-of-Grayskull!" Lately, many random objects have undergone this incredible transformation.

More of the Alphabet Trail playroom.

Metal objects defy gravity as they leap upwards from Virginia's hands while Seth turns up the magnet's power.

Three mirrors form the Kaleidoscope!

The lower level of the museum can be reached by climbing through this platform maze.

The Little Pueblito Cafe

Virginia takes orders from some fellow museum visitors.

Check out those teeth!

Reuben lifts a soapy wall around himself in the bubble room.

Miriam pulls one all the way to the top!

The little grocery store is very popular, and the kids shopped and checked out many times during our visit.

The art room has lots of supplies for creative crafters.

A model of a hot air balloon rises to the ceiling after being heated.

View of Rutherfordton's main street, still with Christmas decorations up.

Reuben reluctantly leaves the museum behind. Until next time!

Around the House and Garden

2012-01-06T20:50:00.000-08:00

Jude is full of new expressions

Seth enjoys Lego of all sizes

The kids like to be creative with their food. Reuben's style is to slice his carrots and then stack them.

Seth prefers to dunk his in water first.

A good pose for a split second.

Continuing to document the progress in the garden.

Holidays at West End Farm

2012-01-03T13:04:00.000-08:00

Gymnastics

2011-12-11T16:46:00.000-08:00

stretching

cartwheels

round offs

back bends

walk overs

back handsprings

combo

Empty Bowls

2011-12-01T14:02:00.000-08:00

Last night the kids participated in a bowl making session for Empty Bowls, a project that brings all ages together to create clay bowls, led by a pottery instructor, which are then sold at a banquet with the proceeds going to a local ministry that feeds the hungry. I was really thankful for the opportunity, since Virginia had pottery on her "to learn" list at the beginning of the school (i.e., doing life) year. And I had really hoped to do some volunteering in our community, especially during the holidays.

First, they were given clay to press onto a mold.

Lots of busy bowl makers

Once they had a good, smooth layer of clay, they could use a variety of objects to press in different textures.

The bowl is removed from the mold and can be smoothed with water.
Everyone could make their own, unique design. Virginia added a flower to hers, another girl made alphabet shapes to stick to the bottom.

Luke kept Reuben and Seth occupied by having them pose for pictures.

The world is a stage.....

Miriam inspects the finished bowls. I think she is pointing to the one she made, and Virginia's is the one in the middle of the pan beside her with the flower sticking out. Reuben's is down at the far end.

Fall....and stuff

2011-11-03T19:05:00.001-07:00

We've been having lots of fun this fall. So much fun, that I haven't had any time to blog about it all!

We kicked off the first day of the season with an equinox party and bonfire at our home. A few families came from a new "homeschool" group called LATTE, which stands for "Learning all the time, everywhere". It's really a planning center for events and activities and is particularly suited to our autodidactical approach to education. The group was recently started by a friend I met at the local farmer's market, and it's been a wonderful way to incorporate the kids' interests within the local community. Leslie heads up the children's table there at the market with activities and crafts each week. She brought materials to our party to make fall garlands and apple stars. The kids all had a great time collecting leaves, twigs and acorns to thread onto the garlands. Then we enjoyed a hot dog roast and s'mores over a cheery fire for supper. And last of all, we skyped my friend Lauren in Australia to meet her family and see what their brand new spring looked like in the southern hemisphere.
The kids are all growing, especially Jude, who has gotten quite chubby and quite too big for his newborn sized clothes. Here he is at his first trip to Grandma's. Big sister Virginia snapped this picture, as well as the one above of the fire in the wood stove. She experimented with several settings before she found one that captured the dancing flames just right. She does a lot of experimenting these days. You might stumble on a perfect, rectangular patch of new grass on the bare patch under the old swing set, a half finished model of a lego fire truck, and many bracelets with various arrangements of beads strewn about the house. Especially since my friend, Kelly, and I coordinated a jewelry making class with Kelly's girl scout troop led by two local artisans, whom my girls had gotten to know a bit at the farmer's market. Both Virginia and Miriam made lists of the things they wanted to learn this school year, and jewelry making was at or near the top for the two of them.

Miriam is the little mama to her brothers and loves to have them accompany her on endless pretend trips to the market and real picnics that she packs up for them to take outside. This morning she drew a calendar with illustrations in each box for the chores they had to do each day. When I asked her why she only had "feed the cat" for one day, she informed me that that was the day they would visit Virginia and help her feed her cat, but they did not have a cat to feed every day.

Reuben is funny, and impatient. But you can't blame him too much when he is stuck in the middle and sometimes needs a little extra drama to get attention. We are all learning to be patient with each other. He loves super heroes, drawing monsters and dressing up as a fireman. We took a tour of the local fire station in his honor with the LATTE group. At four, he is proud to make himself snacks, which he learned by watching his sisters. Trail mixes are his specialty, but chocolate milk from scratch (a spoonful of sugar, a spoonful of cocoa, a spoonful of hot water, mix, then stir in milk) and a cup of tea are, well, also his cup of tea.

Seth is quickly leaving his babyhood behind. He's grown into a stocky boy with a bright mind and lots and lots of words. He is our earliest talker and has opinions too, which he never hesitates in sharing. He is also the loudest and largest for his age, which sometimes makes the two year old mood swings a bit challenging. In a matter of seconds he is the loving big brother who makes the baby coo and smile and the charging bull/screaming banshee who didn't get his way when Mama refused to let him ...wave a sharp knife in the air, pound the baby, flood the kitchen, play with fire, you get the idea. But he's almost always in the mood for a cuddle. They all are, and I'd better get as many in as I can before they think they're too old. (You are never too old from a mama's point of view).
We've also been enjoying the harvest. I let the garden go while recovering from the c-section and new baby days, but was grateful to still harvest some big sweet potatoes (which were so good, we ate them all already), a few acorn squash and some beautiful, colorful ears of Cherokee popcorn. I've been gathering acorns, too, soaking and drying them, and grinding them into flour, and making oodles of muscadine jam. It's hunting season too, and our neighbors have given us a generous portion from a buck they shot here in our neck of the woods. I made some stock with the bones and used it to make some warm, hearty stew with local veggies from the farmer's market, herbs from the garden, and some tender meat that was stuck to the bone. And I have steaks and roasts in the freezer for future recipes to try.

Biblical Worldview?

2011-09-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

I have a big problem with the term, The Biblical Worldview. It assumes that whatever reality or truth is out there, we somehow have to justify it or connect it to the Bible. As a Christian, I think this is a shabby use of scripture, which consists of particular books written by particular authors with particular intentions. What if I believed that the literary forms are also inspired? Then I would have to take Genesis as myth/poetry, gospels as testimonies from individual perspectives, epistles as letters to particular people and Revelation and prophets as apocalyptic metaphor and social commentary because these are the types of literature they are, and were originally received as. I think it is the product of Roman imperialism and Greek philosophy that seeks to totalize and universalize the sacred texts, then distill them into dogmatic formulae. I think that is not only a shabby way to read them, but also a lifeless, dull way, and, well, irreverent. "One ring to rule them all" type of thing.

Part of the emphasis of the Reformation was that the Bible applies to all of life. But that does not take into account that the "all" in life, such as humanly created institutions, and theologies that support them, are not in themselves Biblical, nor did they even exist in Biblical times. In particular, the Dutch neo-reformed theologian, Abraham Kuyper, propagated the idea of a pillared society, upheld by the various institutions of family, church and state, and many smaller ones. This is the way the Christian dominionists in the USA view society, by trying to take over each of these "pillars" for God. It's just another "manifest destiny" if you ask me. Fascist to the core. I mean, what if we went and applied the Bible to the Hindu caste system. Does that make it "biblical"? Hell no. You can dress up a skeleton in different clothes, but it's still a skeleton. And it's still dead.

I Am Sick of Hearing About the High Calling of Motherhood!

2011-09-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

Don't get me wrong, I completely agree that motherhood is a high calling. So is fatherhood. But, like so many catchy phrases, it is often used to mean something beyond it's face value. It's often a coded way of saying that motherhood (and read between the lines, cook and cleaning lady) is the only appropriate employment a woman may have. This is a relatively recent myth, perpetuated among a certain class lucky enough to live on a single income, because throughout most of the world, and throughout history, mothers and fathers have had to work beyond their houses. But the world was much friendlier towards having children accompany their parents. Mothers would wear their babies to the fields or forests to farm and gather, and they would be in the company of other women and children. When boys were old enough, they could accompany the hunting parties with the men. In these hunter gatherer societies, however, home was the village, and much time was spent together in community life: making tools, preparing food, singing and telling stories around the fire. They were also mostly egalitarian. Although, for practical reasons, men and women had some separate roles, the aged and elders of both sexes shared their wisdom and helped make important decisions for the tribe.

I don't want to give the impression that I naively believe that hunter gatherer societies had a perfect life. But as we move forward in time, it is good to remember what we may have lost along the way in our scramble ahead. And to think about how we can get some of it back. The modern exaltation of the nuclear family has its drawbacks. It isolates women from their communities, families from their aging parents, neighbors from one another, and people from the land they walk on together. By having one or both parents work long hours away from their children, the current corporate economy also contributes to the breakdown of both family and community life.

I think the remedy must go far deeper than keeping mom shackled to the home. Mothers, as much as fathers, have a multitude of gifts they wish to share with the wider world. And fathers, as much as mothers, need lots of time to spend with their children in order to develop strong relationships and community values. And the land! The land is so tired of being trampled on, built and cemented over, and polluted by our mindless consumption. If you don't believe me, take some time, go into the woods alone, and just listen. Quiet all defensiveness, and just listen. Look at every detail. It does not take rocket science to figure out that if you keep extracting from a limited resource, and do not return what you take, the resource will run dry. I don't need any politician to tell me that.

So let's work together to re-imagine and recreate a new kind of economy, and a new definition of home. Let's treat the earth as God's house, which was made so that we would all dwell together as one family. Remember that the holy city with streets of gold comes down to earth, and it is a metaphor of the Bride, the people of God, who are living stones built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. We are that city. Let us open the gates wide and invite others to sit down and eat together at one table, each sharing with all the gifts we have been given. Let's practice an economy of Jubilee, where debts are forgiven, slaves are freed, and the land is returned to the laborer. Let's equip all with tools not for building ladders to reach the top, but true tools for conviviality.

curriculum giveaway

2011-08-30T13:35:00.000-07:00

Cool giveaway at this site! It's a homeschool curriculum, and it sounds like a really good one.
http://mothering.com/all-things-mothering/education/win-a-complete-homeschool-curriculum-k-8-from-oak-meadow-3/comment-page-6#comment-28166

Jude's Birth

2011-08-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

Jude Thomas Harding joined our family August 2 at 6lbs. 3oz. His birth was a lot different than the other four. After he had gone over a week past the due date, I realized he was stuck in a transverse lie, and knew I was going to need some help. I was planning to check in at the hospital, but also consulted a couple midwives to see if there was any way to get him turned. I went to a chiropractor and got the Webster technique done Monday afternoon on August 1. I thought he may have shifted position, and I also began to have a lot of contractions, so after dinner I went to a birth center an hour away to have the midwife who delivered my first child check us out and see if he could be delivered there. She found him still lying transverse and counseled us to go to the hospital. It was late at night but we were admitted. There was an experienced Dr. there who was able to turn Jude with an external version. Very painful! I was thankful to have not only Luke there with me, but my priest, Jenny, to offer prayers and support. And that my kids were in the very best of hands, since my mom had come earlier in the day. I knew we had a lot of people praying for us.

Next, we were transported to labor and delivery. My water broke soon after and it had meconium (new baby poop) in it, which was not uncommon after a version, since the baby can be somewhat traumatized from it. So I had to stay on the bed for the rest of the night hooked up to the moniter. Labor progressed very slowly, even with the pitocin they gave me. Jude was head down, but he stayed suspended several inches above the pelvis. Several times that night after very strong, painful contractions, his heart rate would drop and we would have to struggle to get it back up with uncomfortable positions and oxygen. By morning the contractions had become unbearable. I would only contract along the bottom of the uterus, as if my body was trying to keep baby up in there rather than get him out, and it hurt like hell. They finally gave me something to stop the contractions and I got a few moments rest. The shift changed during this time and the new nurse got things going again, but with less pitocin. Jude's heart rate dropped again, and it took longer to get it back up. When the new Dr. came in, we both agreed to a c-section. I was exhausted and knew we needed to get him out of there. It turned out that the cord was wrapped twice around his neck and was stuck by his head. This time, I was not at home in my birthing pool, reaching down to draw out my baby's soft head, feeling the ears, cheeks and face slowly emerge, and it was not Luke's and my hands that caught our little one when he came sliding out. This time, I could see nothing, my body was numbed from the chest down, and my arms were tied down. But I heard his first cry, and knew he was going to be alright, that everything was going to be okay. And I would shortly have my baby in my arms, which is what I had so desperately longed for since I reached full term. We are so thankful for a healthy baby boy with a very big appetite who already sleeps for a 6 hour stretch at night! Luke's version of Jude's birth can be read here.

Nim's Island

2011-07-13T18:02:00.000-07:00

Best Unschooling Movie Ever!

Watch on this ad supported site

Spring At West End Farm

2011-04-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

When Children are Neighbors

2011-04-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

Public shaming is a disciplinary tactic common in the classroom setting. Most of us have probably experienced it at least once. The teacher finds a child guilty of some negligence or disruption and rebukes her in front of the whole class. Dunce caps may have been discarded, but the chorus of derisive "Ooooooh's" from fellow classmates, combined with the disapproval of an adult that the child tries so hard to please certainly carries a similar emotional weight. The pink splotched cheeks, the jaw clenched to prevent tears (which would only add to the shame), the downcast gaze- these are all outward indications of the turmoil within. With knotted stomach and a monstrous lump in her throat, the branded heretic returns to her lunch, now tasteless, and with great effort tries to put on a show of not caring. She musters a smug look and forces herself to chew and swallow as if nothing had happened. But inside her brain a firestorm is raging as she struggles to understand why whatever she did was so unacceptable when she intended no harm. And gradually she internalizes that the teacher must be right and that she is, herself, unacceptable. Is it any wonder that, given the way we treat our children, that the U.S. has the highest incarceration rate of any other country?

Part of the reason for this disciplinary method is the religious background of this nation. The Calvinist doctrine of Original Sin once prevailed and it was interpreted in such a way that parents and teachers assumed that every infringement of "the rules" was due to an inborn propensity to rebel. And it was their job to beat it out of their children. When I was a child I can remember how offended I felt if my motives were thus dictated to me, knowing in my heart that I had not acted out of rebellion, but simply out of ignorance or forgetfulness of what was expected of me. I had a deep and lively faith and love of God, and was hurt when those who did not know my heart would not believe me. I wonder if parents and teachers really think about the golden rule when disciplining their children. I know I forget it far more often than I care to admit. But I believe we should always assume the best in others, especially our children, if that is how we wish to be treated ourselves.

Once children have moved on from the baby stage, during which a large part of their thinking is devoted to simply learning the mechanisms of how to live in space and to make sense of sensory information, they gradually begin to understand about relationships and how their actions cause responses among their peers and caregivers. Though even before they are born, babies are deeply perceptive of emotions in others, especially in their mothers. And their first textbook is the human face, which they try to mimic and understand as soon as their eyes can focus. As they grow to school age, the desire increases to be instrumental in shaping the world around them, as well as being involved in the lives of the people around them. They are very anxious to prove themselves to the adults closest to them.

I think that as adults, we often take for granted the customs and manners we have adopted through the process of socialization. We sometimes seem to think that children should simply know which behaviors are appropriate and which are not, and when they act out of ignorance, we assume they are being intentionally rebellious. We get frustrated when children simply don't "get" what is obvious to us. For instance, if a child is making rude sounds at the table, even though this is not a sin in itself, we make it into a sin by virtue of them doing something we told them not to. We thus make the parent the arbitrary definer of sin. Why not rather ask the child to be considerate of others and explain that most people do not want to eat around people who make those noises while they eat? I suspect this appeal will, in most cases, be all that is needed. If the child still will not cooperate, then it is probably clear that he is being intentionally selfish. But the approach "obey without question because you are under our authority" treats the child more like an animal to be trained, rather than a thinking, human being with a soul capable of moral choices.

There are, no doubt, times when children do intentional wrong. Often, though, this is in retaliation. Again, we should try to assume the best. This does not mean that wrong or socially unacceptable behavior should be ignored. But, as in the illustration above, we first need to strive to communicate with them, before we discipline.

And we should not use the tactic of public disgrace, either in the school, the home or any institution. We so often forget that even though our children are children, they are no less our brothers and sisters. Thus, if we are Christians, we begin with "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you...." (Matthew 18:15)

"Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." He took a little child and had him in his arms and he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." (Mark 9:35-37)

Note: The image above is by the Spanish artist, Francisco Goya, and is part of of series done in 1797, 1798 entitled "Los Caprichos". Goya described them as depicting "the innumerable foibles and follies to be found in any civilized society, and from the common prejudices and deceitful practices which custom, ignorance or self interest have made usual."

Enjoying Our New Location :)

2011-02-26T08:15:00.000-08:00

About a month ago the four of us Nathans moved to Jacksonville, FL. We are enjoying all the sunshine so much! Everyday the kids play outside and soak up some good vitamin D. The other day we finally made it out to the beach and had a nice picnic lunch there. Simon even took his afternoon nap on a towel in the sand. Lacey never stopped playing the whole time. It's so nice for my kids to be able to be outdoors so much. We built a sandcastle, then I got to lie back and read my book for a while :)

Just Built!

2011-01-25T11:52:00.000-08:00

No, it's not a wigwam, though I had considered that as an option. My goal was to build a chicken shelter with materials we already had on hand. Thankfully, I managed to find enough scrap lumber around the property to complete the job. So this shelter is made entirely with recycled materials and hand tools. I didn't spend a red cent.

Among my sources for salvaged wood was an old goat shelter that we found in the woods a couple years ago. It looked like it was thrown together with scraps as well. It was covered in vines and brambles and was falling apart, but some of it was still intact. I took it apart, toted it across the field and was able to use a good bit of it, though the ends and edges of the wood were rotted and had to be trimmed, and the pieces of tin roof needed a few minor patches with caulk. I was also able to straighten and reuse some of the nails, though I must admit that I used up Luke's stash of leftovers first.

Other sources of wood were an old shed door, a pallet, and a free standing nesting box Luke had made several years ago. The nesting box was missing a back, so I put a hinged flap on it to allow for easy access (the hinges were also from the old shed door). Now all it needs is a latch for the flap and a paint job. Maybe I'll find some paint to salvage too.

I really had a blast making this, and am so glad my dad took the time to teach me basic carpentry skills when I was a little girl. It brought back many fun memories for me as I recalled everything I learned from him whenever I would "help" him with a project. Especially when Virginia stopped playing for a little while to come and hand me nails as I needed them. She can drive a nail pretty straight herself, and once built a ramp so she could push her bike up into the shed. I'm looking forward to seeing what else she and her sister and brothers come up with.

The Best Fresh Bread Hack Ever!

2011-01-15T13:07:00.000-08:00

Once in awhile, amidst the meandering wanderings my many interests take me on the internet, I stumble on something really, really awesome, something so useful, easy and delightful, it's almost too good to be true. Thus it happened on a day when I was reading an article about how to make wigwams (more on that later) on the Mother Earth News web archives, I looked to the sidebar and noticed the link entitled, "Five Minutes a Day for Fresh Baked Bread."

The article shows how to mix up a big-ass recipe of dough, store it in the fridge and, voila, fresh bread items on demand.

I've made a few minor adjustments to both the basic recipe and the method. So here's my version, though I would recommend reading the article first to familiarize yourself with the process. There are some great tips to make your oven work like one at a bakery.

6 cups warm water (just above body temp is good)

6 cups all-purpose organic flour

7 cups whole wheat flour

2 T. sea salt

3 T. instant yeast for first recipe, then decrease to 2 or less for subsequent recipes.

Mix all ingredients just until flour is incorporated. Let rise till double. Store in the refrigerator, and whenever you need dough for something, sprinkle the top with flour, flour your hands, and remove enough for your project. Work in a small amount of flour as needed, but do not knead. Just shape and set on a well floured surface to rest for about 40 min. Bake in preheated 450F degree oven on preheated stone, sprinkled with flour, oats, wheat germ, corn meal, or whatever you wish to keep the dough from sticking. In the rack below, place a broiler pan or cookie sheet. When the oven is hot, slide your bread onto the stone and pour 1 cup of water in the pan below to create steam. This will make a wonderful crust.

The dough can be used for artisan bread, such as the French boule pictured, buns, bread sticks, cinnamon rolls, pizza crust, dinner rolls, stromboli, etc. When there is only enough dough left for about one loaf of bread, mix up your next batch, mixing in the remaining dough to act as a starter, including scraping the dough off the sides of your container. The more you do this, the less yeast you will need, and the more flavorful your bread will become. It will soon take on sourdough properties. One batch will keep two weeks in the refrigerator (although it gets used up long before that in our house).

Three Kings Day Celebrations

2011-01-06T10:30:00.001-08:00

As Episcopalians, we have always celebrated the Feast of Epiphany. Our family tradition has been to make King cake and display the three wise men worshiping the baby Jesus from the nativity set. And we take down the Christmas tree. But this year we decided to add something a little different, something to celebrate the beautiful, ever changing, ever blending, multicultural landscape of our locality. And so we adopted the Latin American tradition of leaving hay and water out the night before for the Wise Men, or rather, their camels. In the morning, the children expect to find a gift left by the venerable Magi. What could be better than homemade play dough? So this morning, each child found a bag of play dough and played to their heart's content, and Mama got to take a long soak in the tub. Then we all made King Cake together. Tonight we will see who finds the hidden treasure inside the cake.

Tea in the Beaver's Hideout

2011-01-04T10:28:00.001-08:00

We have been enjoying reading aloud together "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis, one of our Christmas gifts from Grandma Wright. This morning we read about how Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, and three of the children: Peter, Susan and Lucy, hid from the White Witch in a secret cave. The White Witch had cast a spell over the magical land of Narnia, which Lucy discovered by entering an old wardrobe in an ancient house, making it always winter and never Christmas. When their brother, Edmund, disappeared the night before, the Beavers knew he had gone to the White Witch to betray them. She had lied to him, telling him he could be a prince and eat Turkish Delight all day long if he brought his brother and two sisters to her. But she really meant to kill them, because of a prophecy that said that when two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve sat on the four thrones at Caer Paravel, her reign would be ended. Yet she was even more afraid when she heard that Aslan, the great lion, was returning to Narnia. It was to him, the true King, that the Beavers were taking the three children, their only hope to stop the witch and save Edmund. While hiding in the cave, they heard sleigh bells and were afraid the witch had come upon them, but their fears were soon quelled when they discovered their visitor was no other than Father Christmas. His coming was proof that the witch's power was crumbling. After bestowing gifts upon them all, "he brought out (I suppose from that big bag on his back, but nobody quite saw him do it) a large tray containing five cups and saucers, a bowl of lump sugar, a jug of cream and a great big teapot, all sizzling and piping hot. Then he cried out, 'Merry Christmas! Long live the true King!' and cracked his whip, and he and the reindeer and the sledge and all were out of sight before anyone realized that they had started.........So down the steep bank they went and back to the cave, and Mr. Beaver cut some of the bread and ham into sandwiches and Mrs. Beaver poured out the tea and everyone enjoyed themselves." (from "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe")

Nature Display

2010-12-30T14:15:00.000-08:00

I've been enjoying one of my Christmas gifts from my mom, a book called "The Creative Family" by Amanda Blake Soule. While many of the suggestions in the book are second nature to me, there are many fresh, inspiring ideas.

One of these is something I've been wanting to do for a long time, and that is to set up a nature table with treasures we find outdoors. Ever since I can remember, I've collected rocks, pine cones, shells and fossils from my many outdoor adventures. Most of these I've had to discard, though I've held on to a few amazing specimens. And the kids are following suit.

But it's not exactly practical in a small house full of little ones to have our treasures out in the open. I have learned from experience after a beautiful conch I found on the Gulf of Mexico got flushed down the toilet. So a nature table seemed out of the question. Don't have that kind of space that is out of the reach of the littlest ones. And then I thought, why does it have to be that big? We can set up a small space to display a few treasures at time, and change them with others as we cycle through the seasons.

As soon as I told the girls that I had set out a basket for the treasures they find outdoors, they ran out to collect some. Pine needles, rocks, acorns, some dried flower skeletons and thin, papery leaves soon graced the winter display, with a fossil some friends and I found long ago when I lived in rural New Jersey, and a lovely piece of quartz my sister had found when we first moved to this state, over thirteen years ago. I wonder what we'll add next.

Waldorf Gnome Tutorial

2010-12-05T19:29:00.001-08:00

I've had a blast this week end making these Waldorf gnomes out of some recycled wool sweater scraps I had stored away and some large wooden beads from a bag of craft odds and ends my mother-in-law gave us. They are super quick and easy. If you're interested, check out this tutorial I wrote on hubpages.

Build a Snowman

2010-12-03T09:59:00.001-08:00

Here in South Carolina, we don't get to build snowmen very often. Maybe once or twice a year. But with this easy felt game, we can have lots of fun and stay warm and snug in our cozy kitchen. Ok, so nothing beats the real thing, but this project comes in for a close second and makes a great homemade gift that the kids can help you with.

To make this game you will need 1 sheet of white felt, scraps of black, brown, orange and other desired colors for the scarves. Then you will need four colors of felt for the building surfaces, each made of half a sheet. Also, you will need 1 die.

First, draw your patterns onto paper. I drafted a whole snowman, rather than three separate balls. Virginia designed the hat, scarf, carrot nose and stick arms. Next, on the sheet of white felt, trace four snowmen, cut them out and then cut into three "balls". Trace and cut out the accessories. Make four hats, four scarves, four noses and eight arms.

To play, each player chooses a building surface. Then, they take turns rolling the die and adding each piece that corresponds to the number rolled. Here's how we did it:
1. snowball
2. nose
3. give a piece away (if everyone already has the pieces you have, you don't have to)
4. hat
5. scarf
6. arm

The winner is the first to assemble a completed snowman.

The game has become quite a hit with the kids. Miriam asked for it first thing in the morning. And they can't just play one game at a time. It usually takes 3-5 rounds before they have lost interest, which makes for a great rainy day activity.

Peg People

2010-11-16T17:30:00.000-08:00

We've been working on some Christmas crafts today. If you recognize these two families, please don't let on to the two little girls who they might be for. :)

Trip to Greenville, SC

2010-10-26T08:38:00.000-07:00

Last week we met my sister, Marianne, her two kids, her friend and her daughter, in the city of Greenville, SC for a fun outing. After a picnic at Cleveland park, we drove to Main Street and parked near the Reedy Falls Park. Here are my kids waiting by the entrance. There were several interesting fountains.

Next, we took an elevator down from the busy street to the riverwalk below, where the only traffic we had to worry about was pedestrians and cyclists.
Here, in the midst of the bustling city, one could enjoy watching the river, observing the waterfowl, or taking a quiet picnic.

One of the highlights of the riverwalk is the Children's Garden, full of giant sculptures, storybook themes, and lots of other fun, interactive stuff.

Lastly, on the way back, the kids enjoyed splashing in a fountain that squirted random spurts of water, including a surprise tunnel sprinkler!

Sharing

2010-09-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

This post is in answer to an invitation by my sister Marianne to share what it means to be a woman. I tried to answer in the comment section, but it was too long, and I lost it all. :( So just a reminder, always copy your comments if you spend a long time on them, because you just never know when they will just randomly fall through the cracks in the internet. But I believe in providence, so this is just a chance to write it even better.

So here's my third try. (the first time I hit the wrong button when I was halfway through and found myself on another webpage.)

What is my deepest desire? It is for the world to be healed and for the people of God to be completely defined by the all encompassing new creation order of the Second Adam. Defined by the Sermon on the Mount and the Jesus story just as Israel was defined by the Law of Moses and the Exodus. Defined by the resurrection order of reconciliation, not by human institutions organized under the curse. Defined by the infusion of the Spirit into every living member of this Body.

This is what my personal identity stems from. In my aspirations and pursuit of organic homesteading and natural parenting, I see my participation in the renewal of creation. In my choice of unschooling/homeschooling, I see it as a way to undo the mental hegemony of "the powers that be", a way to "bring down strongholds and make every thought captive to Christ". These are just some examples that come to mind.

I guess my deepest personal desire is to be free. Free to exercise my gifts in every arena and to be recognized as an equal in every circle, as a competent defender of truth and a formidable foe against evil. I have the heart of a warrior, a fierce instinct to protect, to mother all that are weak, to undo the powers of oppression with all that I have and to offer shelter to the beaten and oppressed. I hate injustice and the thing I hate next to that is a stereotype. I am always seeking ways to define myself outside of them, and when I stay in them I am stifled.

What fulfills, moves, inspires, frees? Dancing to a good rhythm, when the beat and music flow through my body and control my movements. Swimming in a river, biking on an open road by woods and fields, any kind of flowing motion in a natural setting. I love hiking a new trail, wondering what is around the next curve or over the next hill. I constantly crave adventure and novelty. I almost always have to have something new to try. And ideas. When I am reading something and a spark goes off somewhere inside. And suddenly a million sparks go off at once, connections are made, and a new idea is conceived. Then it must be born somehow, through some form of expression, whether prose, poetry, a form of physical art, or even an activity. These are the things that make me "tick". What does all this have to do with being a woman- a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter? Everything. My family and friends are both the recipients of my gifts, which are expressions of love as well as fulfillment of the cycle of who I am and what I think and what I do, and a constant source of inspiration for them. But I want to make one thing clear. Womanhood does not define me so much as I define it, or rather contribute to the definition of it, along with all the other women who do so as well.

Education, the Business Model and the Imago Dei

2010-09-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

What is education? It is the subject of much debate, though usually the matter is consigned to educational directors and social planners. Most parents do not feel that they posses the intellectual qualifications to grapple with it. Yet perhaps a more fundamental question needs to be asked first. "What does it mean to be human?"

In the book of Genesis, in the Bible, we read a story of origins. We read that God created the world and then formed humans out of the dust of the earth. He made them male and female and placed them as co-equal rulers over the rest of creation. And most importantly, he made them in his own image. To be human, therefore, according to the Biblical narrative, is to bear the image of the Divine, the stamp of his own character. We can think, reflect, reason and create after the same manner as our Creator.

This propensity to emulate God is evident from earliest childhood. I can look around the room and see it in the activities of my own children at this very moment. Just as God thought, then expressed his thought in creative act, so they make use of the elements of paint, water, glue, piano keys, a computer, and random toys and objects in order to rearrange them into a form that was conceived in their own minds, by their own wills. And, like God, they can step back from their creations and say to themselves, "It is good." Furthermore, as God himself completed his masterpiece, and set aside a day for his people to enjoy it, so is the urge to share what is made expressed in so many words, "Look what I did, Mama!" or, "Listen to this!" or "I made this for you.", followed by an expectation of approval, a sign that the delight is mutual. This should naturally lead to the desire for God's own approval, exercising our creative labor during the week, then enjoying that work in the context of God's gifts of grace in feasting, thanksgiving and worship together when the week is done, and a new one begun. This completes the cycle of love between the Creator and his people.

What happens to this universal work ethic model, for it is nothing less than that, when one enters the business world, or the public school system which was designed to prepare children for it, is the great question that the book I am reading, The Underground History of American Education, by John Taylor Gatto, helps to answer. In it, Gatto, a retired public schoolteacher of 30 years, traces the various influences in history that played a part in shaping the structure of society as we know it today. Through a strange wedding of wealthy opportunists to Utopian dreamers, armed with the tools of scientific management and the moral commission that Darwin granted to those handpicked by natural selection to help the selective process of evolution along, the modern business model and it's labor force supplier, the public school, emerged.

Despite the danger of oversimplifying Gatto's intensive investigation, I think the words of Frederick W. Taylor, brilliant evangelist of the scientific management model of the early 20th century, best sums up the sentiment of the age. He said, "What I demand of the worker is not to produce any longer by his own initiative, but to execute punctiliously the orders given down to their minutest details." In his book, "Principles of Scientific Management" Taylor summarized his managerial discipline in the following power points:

A regimen of science, not rule of thumb.
An emphasis on harmony, not the discord of competition.
An insistence on cooperation, not individualism.
A fixation on maximum output.
The development of each man to his greatest productivity

Perhaps this list does not scare you as much as it does me. But listen to how it is applied by Taylor in a theoretical scenario at a steel factory:

"Now Schmidt, you are a first-class pig-iron handler and know your business well. You have been handling at a rate of twelve and a half tons per day. I have given considerable study to handling pig-iron, and feel you could handle forty-seven tons of pig-iron per day if you really tried instead of twelve and a half tons.

Skeptical but willing, Schmidt started to work, and all day long, and at regular intervals, was told by the men who stood over him with a watch, "now pick up a pig and walk. Now sit down and rest. Now walk—rest," etc. He worked when he was told to work, and rested when he was told to rest, and at half past five in the afternoon had his forty-seven tons loaded on the car."

And so it goes, so it goes. The deliberate massification of the population. The systematic destruction of the Imago Dei in the human imagination, both in the mind transplants of those forced into the school manufacturing process and, more so, in the goitered jowls of the suit and tie business tycoons and their bought-and-paid-for politicians. We owe much to this model. Suppression of creativity leads to violent passions, which requires psychological therapy and brain altering medication to control, and television to soothe the numbed mind, or mass policing when these other methods fail. Students are trained to trust an elite hierarchy from birth onward for every area of life. First there is the immune system rape of mass vaccination, upheld by mythic hero tales, coupled with the disabling and vastly under-reported neurological side effects of these toxins. There is the seizure of the food supply by powerful agribusiness lobbies, squeezing out the nourishing traditions of small farming families and replacing them with nutritionless convenience foods with addictive chemicals added to mask their flavorlessness. And let us not forget the seizure of lands rich in fossil fuels, both local and abroad, regardless of the cost to human and ecological life. There is the co-opting and absorption of religion and indigenous traditions into mass national and global identities. There is the mutilation of family life, the shared table replaced by the cafeteria. And the list goes on.

What is the remedy? It is as manifold and varied as it's adversary is monolithic. Each of us must stop and seek to recover the Imago Dei in our own lives, in our own localities. We must reflect deeply, nuture our creative urges, and create free spaces for our children to develop theirs, away from the mind control of massified society. We can plant gardens, support local farmers and crafters, invite neighbors to read through classic literature together, share meals, and learn skills to become independent in herbal medicine, traditional foods, and locally produced renewable energy. There are many possible avenues to be explored, many minds to recover. There is much to be done.

"the fight against the wall continues" (picture by Yann Forget)

Jammin'

2010-09-20T14:30:00.001-07:00

Last week we were blessed by some kind folks who chose to share their abundant harvest with the freecycle crowd. I responded to their ad and was invited to come pick muscadine grapes from a very old grapevine. It had been planted by the owner's grandmother, and has now seen five generations of happy pluckers.

After a moderate 30 minute drive, the kids and I were greeted by Lynda and escorted to that venerable matriarch of the plant kingdom. It grew over a long trellis, which it covered completely, and its foliage formed a hollow tunnel along the entire length. The children were just the right size to crawl underneath, and could easily stand upright once inside. They chattered happily with Lynda, who helped us with the picking, and the conversation was pleasant all 'round. The baskets were quickly filled and, after a heartfelt thank you and gifts of our fig preserves and apple butter for Lynda, we left with three gallons of grapes in the floor well of the station wagon.

The next day was spent almost entirely making muscadine jam. First we washed, stemmed and crushed the grapes, using a potato masher. These were cooked for a little while, then pressed through a colander, resulting in a purple, pulpy juice. Sugar was added and the mixture was cooked down to a thick sauce, then processed in the pressure canner. I did all three gallons in two batches, but I wasn't quite sick enough of the kitchen not to make some biscuits to have with tea and fresh jam. Mmmmmm.....

cooking the jam.....

Jam and Biscuits...

other yummy stuff we preserved this summer

Getting Ready for Winter

2010-09-08T07:29:00.000-07:00

The nights are finally cooling down and the mornings hold promise of autumn's changing dress and relief from summer's oppressive heat. It is time to make preparations for winter.

We spent the past three day week end cutting, splitting and stacking our supply of fuel for heating the house. I absolutely love splitting wood- the sweet aroma of oak and that glorious feeling when instead of a dull thud, a loud crack is heard when the axe comes down on the log as it falls apart. Our neighbor graciously gave us several trees he had recently cut, and this increased our stash considerably, although this will not be dry enough to burn until mid to late winter. And to top it all, we enjoyed dinners and breakfast cooked on a campfire, the first we've had in a long time, to celebrate the cooler temperatures.

Happy Birthday Virginia! You are 7!

2010-08-19T10:25:00.000-07:00

fabric giveaway!

2010-08-17T15:44:00.000-07:00

Check out the Christmas fabric giveaway on this blog. There are a lot of things we could make with that :) http://stitchedincolor.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/fabric-giveaway-from-sew-love-christmas/#comment-589

Un-School on Saturday

2010-07-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

Miriam came over while I was planning the menus and writing up a grocery list, and pointed to some of the words for me to read them. I did, but chose one to write in neat print, opposed to the chicken scratch I normally scribble in. She copied it and asked for another. That's not the first time a grocery list has turned into a lesson.
Grocery lists and menus make great teaching tools. Here are a few reasons:

1. Kids want to do what Mom is doing.

2. Kids want to learn things in the context of something in life that they can relate to.

3. It sets a good example to always plan what you are going to eat and buy in advance so you eat healthier, save trips and save money.

4. It turns ordinary excursions into jolly holidays when your little ones get to be involved in the planning and help with real, grown up things.

I wish I had taken my camera with me to the grocery store today, because Virginia scanned nearly the whole lot at the self check-out and didn't mess up once!

Stories to Inhabit Part 2: Books from the Inside Out

2010-07-23T15:33:00.000-07:00

We read these three books this afternoon, gifts from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which is sponsored here by our local chapter, Cherokee County First Steps. This is a ministry that targets poorer areas of the country and provides every child who signs up a free book every month from birth until their 5th birthday. Needless to say, the mailbox is checked with much enthusiasm when the long awaited time draws near.

I have also been pleased by the quality of the books and stories. Some of them are a bit on the silly side, which we all need a little of, and some have truly inspiring messages to impart.

The first book we read, "The Spiffiest Giant in Town" is one such gem. I won't give too much away, but it is about a giant who wanders sadly around in tattered sandals and a worn out, old gown. He is tired of being so shabby so he buys himself a new suit. He is now the spiffiest giant in town. But he keeps meeting fellow creatures in desperate predicaments, and each time, he sacrifices a bit of his new wardrobe. He is left with almost nothing, but the end is absolutely glorious, the revelation of "a prince in beggar's clothing". The detailed, fairy tale hodge-podge illustrations are also captivating and, at times, whimsical (like a princess walking along holding hands with a frog), with more to discover with each subsequent reading.

"Pip and Squeak" remind me of two little girls I know, who can be so competitive that they end up hampering their own endeavors. But, like these two little mice, they occasionally find that when working together, their stars shine brighter than when selfishly pursuing their own advancements. The pictures are a cleverly created mouse world, with a whole village made from odds and ends in a very "Borrowers" fashion.

The third book, "Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come", was pretty good, other than being a sycophantic puppet dance for the educational hierarchy. But it did show kids doing fun things, in a fun oriented room, which is something we can do here at home. Like the young hero, Henry, my little ones found painting to be the activity that excited them most.

And that's just.....

...what they....

...did.

....and more blackberries!

2010-07-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

Big Beetle

2010-07-14T12:08:00.001-07:00

Homemade "Gatorade"

2010-07-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

Staying hydrated is so important in the summer heat. But just plain water may not be enough. When sweating occurs, the body loses vital salts and minerals that need to be replenished. Our cells require an electrolytic solution to function properly. In chemistry, electrolytes are salts that allow an electrical current to pass through a solution. These solutes also play an important role in cellular activity, particularly in osmosis- the process that controls the passage of water in and out of cell membranes. When there is a high concentration of dissolved particles inside or outside each cell, water will move in or out to balance the concentration. Our bodies require the proper balance of salts and minerals to carry out the many functions of each cell, including the electric signals with which it communicates with the rest of the body.

Commercial electrolytic solutions can be expensive. And they wrongly advertise that you can't make them yourself because you don't know the proper ratio. Well, I'm about to tell you the proper ratio, so you can! In his book, "Your Body's Many Cries for Water", Dr Batmanghelidj instructs his readers in proper hydration. 1/4 tsp. sea salt for every quart of water will supply the balance your cells need. And you should drink at least half your body's weight in ounces each day. You don't have to drink salt water, though. You can just put the salt on your food.

Most processed food is loaded with equally processed sodium chloride, or table salt, so it is best to avoid these foods and eat pure sea salt on your other whole foods, which also contains trace minerals your body needs. Unprocessed sea salt will not look like tiny, perfect cubes as does it's manufactured counterpart. There are various types. Celtic sea salt is gray and damp, mined red salt is, well, red and dry, and Mediterranean is white, and less damp.

But in the heat we are currently experiencing in my neck of the woods, unless you want to sit around in a controlled climate, you are going to sweat. And sweating is good for you. It is God's gift of detox. Most of us don't sweat enough. And that's when you need that little bit of extra. So here is my recipe based on Dr. Batmanghelidj's ratio.

1 pint pure or filtered water
1/8 tsp. sea salt
2 spoonfuls frozen juice concentrate of choice.

Shake ingredients together in a mason jar. You may want to put less water and top it off with ice after mixing. Or make a whole bunch and place in the refrigerator for an instant chilled drink. Enjoy!

AHHHHHHHH! Now that's a tool for conviviality.

Happy Birthday Seth!

2010-07-02T06:39:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe it's been a whole year since Seth Warren joined the Harding family, but here he is- a big birthday boy!

Blackberries

2010-06-22T06:02:00.000-07:00

I went out early this morning and picked about a quart of berries while it was still cool. I have about that much more in the freezer and there are LOTS more out there along the driveway and around the field, as well as a sizable patch in the garden. The kids are begging for another blackberry buckle and I'm looking forward to making sauce to top some pancakes. But they are also good right off the vine. Looks like a bumper crop this year. I love free food!

Happy Birthday Miriam!

2010-06-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

Baby Blue Jay

2010-05-27T06:11:00.000-07:00

Stories to Inhabit

2010-05-24T15:07:00.000-07:00

Charlotte Mason spoke of "living books" as a better source for learning than the textbook approach. Her literature based method has experienced a popular resurgence in curricula for home educators as well as non traditional schools in the past decade or so.

One such curriculum I read about recently is the Five in a Row series, featured in the blog, Simple Homeschool. This method takes a children's classic, which is read over each day of the school week, and incorporates other activities along with it that relate to the story. In this way a large number of subjects can be covered in a way that allows children to relate them to their own experience with the story, rather than having to learn them in a more conventional, and disconnected, manner.

Eureka! A long smoldering passion burst into flame. My previous love as a post home schooled/ college stay-out, chasing new ideas for hands on learning and creating unit studies accordingly for my six younger siblings (and their home schooled friends) was instantly rekindled. The old, familar rush, the brainstorm, the pencil and notebook. It was all coming back.

So with a splash of Charlotte Mason here, and a swash of open-ended unschooling there, all mixed in a medium of incurable idealism for simple living, environmental conscience, social justice and outlandish back-to-the-landishness we begin our journey with Ox Cart Man.

Here is a preliminary sketch for my multi-experiential experiment with this book. The suggestions for teaching reading skills, although cumulatively progressive, can be mixed and matched depending on the skill level, interest and attention span of the child/ children. So can the discussion questions and accompanying activities.

Ox Cart Man by Donald Hall, pictures by Barbara Cooney

Day 1. First, let children look at, read and explore the book, listening to and encouraging their observations. Then read the story aloud and allow the children to invite you into their thoughts about the narrative and pictures. Later, set the book open on a stand at a page that strikes your fancy, and begin to copy/interpret the illustrations and text. Provide paper, pencils, etc. and invite the children to participate. This kind of interaction with the art encourages deeper observation and appreciation for the style and skill of the illustrator. When not in use, the book can remain on the stand with art supplies nearby to encourage this to take place during free time. (Integrated subjects: Art, Creative Thinking)

Day 2. Read the story again, this time choosing simple words and sentences to slow down at and point to as you read. Invite participation to read easy words or parts as their interest and skill
level allows. Next, discuss these questions and do the activity: How far did the man walk? How far could you walk? Go for a hike or walk for an hour or two. When you come home, look on a map to measure the distance. Try to figure out how far you could walk in a whole day. In 10 days? Write or draw about the things you passed on your little journey. (Integrated subjects: Math, Spelling, Physical Health)

Day 3. Read as above, but pause a few times and let children fill in the word from memory. Discuss these ideas. How does this family work together to meet their needs? How are things different or the same with our family and families we know? What are some ways we can all work together to provide for one another in our homes and communities? Try some ideas today and plan some for the future. (Integrated subjects: Social Studies, Economics)

Day 4. Read the story with more interaction. Let children take turns reading or telling about each page. Enjoy their interpretations and comments. For further exploration: How are food and goods grown and made, bought and sold, in this book? How are things different or the same for us? How are the changes good, bad? What do you think is the best way to get food? Plan a trip to a farm or farmer's market and ask people how they grow their produce. (Integrated subjects: Science, Social Studies)

Day 5. Let the children tell the story from memory. Then read the book, allowing much interaction, reading parts in unison, pausing for words to be filled in, pointing at words to be learned, etc. To conclude: What is one skill you would like to learn? Something to make? To grow? Something to sell? Give away? Start learning how today! (Integrated subjects: Memorization, Reading, Forget it, this is real life fun stuff, not school!)

This, as I said, is a preliminary outline. Next we'll actually do it, and I'll share how it goes as we progress. Anyone want to join in?

Two Blooms

2010-05-11T06:49:00.001-07:00

About six years ago, when we rented a tiny trailer on an old farm, our next to the next door neighbor, Brenda, gave me a peony to plant. It came up quickly, but did not flower that year, and when we moved that winter, I decided to leave all the perennials we had planted there for the next tenants to enjoy. But the next spring, when we were visiting Brenda, she told us that the whole property had been sold to a developer. Since no one was renting the old trailer, and since everything would be destroyed to put up a subdivision, I dug up and took all of the plants to our new home.

Year after year, the peony came up. It survived being scratched up by chickens and tugged on by toddlers. It even started putting out flower buds, but every spring they would get pulled off before they had a chance to open. Finally, for the first time, one has survived to open fully. Here is my peony, held up for the camera by my sweet pea, Miriam: two lovely blooms for May. Photo courtesy of Virginia, my lovely, budding photographer.

Happy Birthday Reuben!

2010-04-27T13:12:00.000-07:00

Reuben is 3 years old today, enjoying his new pedal tractor and cart. Happy Birthday Reuben!

Baking Day!

2010-04-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

My friend Kelly came over today with her 3 younger kids, brought her Kitchen-aid mixer and some other supplies, and we spent the morning baking up a storm of bread and tortillas with our aspiring little chefs. In between playing referee, nursing babies, fixing ouches, changing diapers and rushing to rescue the laundry from an impending shower, of course. And somehow we managed to squeeze lunch in there. Sandwiches on fresh bread. YEAH!

We combined effort, tools and ingredients, which increased our efficiency and production, but it was so much more than that. We leavened our friendship along with the dough. The bread that we make, and bless, and share among each other feeds our souls as well as our bodies. It is God's gift from the earth, which is made holy when shared together in the fellowship of the gift from heaven, the One whose body was broken that we might be fed.

My First Waldorf Doll

2010-04-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

I started this doll last winter, hoping to make three of them for the three older kids, but ran out of time, then got burned out with crafting (I don't have a long attention span). So I decided to try and finish this one in time for Reuben's 3rd birthday next week. Most of it is hand sewn, but I cheated with the sewing machine a little. It is made with organic cotton jersey and stuffed with eco-wool. The clothes are made with felted wool from recycled sweaters.

Polliwogs!

2010-04-16T20:29:00.001-07:00

More spring babies in the drainage pond in the garden. The kids enjoyed catching these toad tadpoles today and putting them in jars to watch (of course they let them go after a bit).

Virginia's Arrowhead

2010-03-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

Virginia found this arrowhead yesterday. Here's a pic for Isaiah and Belle! Check out the cool spearhead Isaiah found a few days ago.

Homemade Dog Bed.

2010-03-22T08:33:00.000-07:00

I had been wanting to buy a dog bed for Daisy, the family dog. We had an old blanket and pillow on the floor for her, but those kept getting moved around by her and the kids. I had been pricing them, but the cheapest one walmart had was $20, and it looked wimpy. I checked Ross and they had some for $13, but it still looked kinda crappy, so I decided to make one myself! I took the blanket and pillow Daisy had been using, and cut out the shape of the pillow on the blanket. I sewed it on the machine to make a covering for the pillow, then I cut a strip about a foot wide and long enough to wrap around the outer edge of the pillow. I sewed up the side and then stuffed it. It looked like a really long noodle pillow. I then sewed it by hand onto the outer edge of the pillow, and voila! A comfy dog bed :) It's been Daisy's favorite spot ever since, and I saved at least $13. I wish the picture was better. Had to use my webcam since we haven't replaced our digital camera yet. As you can see, Simon managed to get his cute little self in the pic.

Puppies!

2010-03-17T11:26:00.001-07:00

Our menagerie has grown by four new puppies, who joined us in late February. Virginia took all the photos, except the one with her, which Miriam took. So, in the closing words of Madeline's Rescue, we found that "there was enough hound to go all around".

Wooden Dollhouse

2010-03-09T13:40:00.000-08:00

My husband and I had been wanting to get or make a dollhouse for Lacey. We were given a new entertainment center, and our old one was falling apart. Jon decided to try to make a house from the old entertainment center. He made it in like 2-3 hours one Saturday afternoon! I was shocked at how quickly and efficiently he made it :) I painted it with some leftover paint from when I painted the toy room. The outside is white, and the inside walls are blue. I left the floors unpainted, so that it looks like hardwood flooring. Lacey LOVES it! I've been working on making furniture out of bits of wood. I made some beds and a kitchen counter out of an old clementine box. There's still a lot more I want to make for it, but it's an ongoing process.

Happy Birthday Polliwogs!

2010-02-17T06:31:00.000-08:00

Today is our one year anniversary. Thanks to all our contributors and readers. We look forward to many more years of sharing our passions and discoveries.

And from the archives once more, this, I think, has been our most popular post.

Another From the Archives

2010-02-11T06:56:00.000-08:00

This recipe for granola has been a real money saver. Who knew homemade breakfast cereal could be so cheap and easy, and healthy and yummy to boot? We have a 50# bag of organic quick oats sitting on our dryer that cost less than $1/#. While it is great cooked as a hot cereal, sometimes we like a bit of crunch in the morning, and the extra protein boost of wheat germ and coconut.

If the recipe is too sweet for your taste, just leave out the cane sugar and increase the honey slightly. I've made it with 6T of honey, omitting the sugar, and it still turns out crunchy and sweet.

Also, I have found that the granola cooks in 25 min. instead of 30 in my oven.

From the Archives

2010-02-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

As Polliwogs' first anniversary approaches, I thought I'd link to a few favorites from the archives. I will begin with one that really under-girds our philosophy of education here, that children should be allowed to continue to learn to read, write, etc. in the same way they learned to crawl, walk and speak, with no pressure from adults to arrive at certain milestones at certain times.

As a side note, some have argued from certain theological perspectives, that this approach does not take into account the sin nature making them lazy and unmotivated to learn. We would then ask, why did this sin nature not prevent them from learning to walk or talk, etc., in the first place? The problem is that we have arbitrarily created a system without which we cannot imagine a human could function. "Do your lessons, graduate, go to college, get a job so you can pay the bills, then have a family and raise your kids the same way." Our minds are locked into this reasoning and we see no way around it. Where now is any room left for Jesus' words, "Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them."? And where is there room for the individual to follow her gifts and talents, whether or not they can turn a profit or afford insurance? Is there any hope in this God forsaken social clime?

The only hope, if any, is to allow our children to grow up free from these constraining values. To follow their passions, learn at their own pace, and be aided by every opportunity that is in our power to give them as they pursue their dreams. Then they may have the gift of imagination to think outside the box. My hope is that they will enter society, not driven by necessity, but with the power to live and preach an alternative. And if they decide to stay here with us and help "work the farm", that's fine too. This is what my parents did for me, and I could do no less for them.

Tailgate Teatime

2010-01-19T16:21:00.001-08:00

After hauling, splitting and stacking a bit of wood this afternoon, I took a little break with a nice "cuppa" in the back of Luke's old '63 Ford pickup. Virginia took this picture and Miriam took some too.

Just chillin'

Ditto.

And here is a view of the truck.

Happier Meals

2010-01-18T11:13:00.000-08:00

What makes a meal happy? For a kid, it means tasty food, a prize and a fun box to hold it all. For mom it means no corn syrup, no trans fats, no junk, plenty of whole grain, protein and veggies. Here we have it all. Orange boxes are lined with waxed paper then filled with sandwiches, carrots, lettuce, organic ranch dressing, milk, fruit leather in the shape of a heart and a coloring page with crayons.

Happy kids, enjoying lunch in the fresh air.

Happy Seth. He doesn't need a happy meal to be happy. He's almost always happy:)

Morning Glory

2010-01-14T05:58:00.000-08:00

Early this morning Virginia called to me from her room, "Mama, look out the window!" And this beautiful sunrise met my eyes. I took this photo from our back porch.

And last night, the three older ones were lying in a row on the rug for some reason so I added Seth and snapped a picture of my four silly kids.

Another giveaway!

2010-01-12T06:18:00.000-08:00

This time the Euphoria Blog is giving away a safe feeding sampler pack, so you can see how the different types of dishes work. Totally BPA free! I'm sure those of you with little ones can appreciate that. Simon has broken several of my dishes because I won't serve him food on evil plastics. Check it out! http://www.euphoriababy.com/blog/uncategorized/enter-to-win-a-safe-feeding-sampler-pack/comment-page-1/#comment-2182

Virginia's First Cooking Lesson

2010-01-11T17:51:00.000-08:00

More Scavenging

2010-01-10T13:31:00.000-08:00

#2. A deer track

#6a. Virginia snapped a shot of this proud fellow.

#6b. A crow in flight.

2010-01-08T05:30:00.001-08:00

This (already past) Christmas season I decided that I really wanted to make a gingerbread house, completely from scratch! I did some reading online, and found that most people used patterns to cut out the gingerbread before you bake it. I drew out the pattern on paper, and then put it on the rolled out dough and cut each piece out. After it cooked and cooled I mixed up the icing using egg whites and powdered sugar. I then 'glued' it together using the icing. When it dried I let Lacey come and we decorated it using icing, chocolate chips, and some organic peppermint sticks. Lacey had asked me to make it a church, so we did.

Scavenging Results

2010-01-06T12:55:00.001-08:00

Virginia took this photo of a blackberry vine in winter. She took most of these pictures while we went outside and braved the cold yesterday.

#5 A hole or hollow. Dug by an animal? Perhaps.

#1 and #7 A pine cone on a pine (evergreen) tree

#3a. A sweetgum seed case

cute boy with a winter hat

#4. Ice on the edge of the creek

#9. squirrel nest

Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt

2010-01-05T10:38:00.000-08:00

1. A pine cone
2. An animal track in snow or mud
3. 3 different seeds or berries
4. ice
5. A hole dug by an animal
6. 3 different birds
7. An evergreen (try to identify)
8. Tree buds waiting for spring
9. A bird or squirrel nest
10. Orion (turn off flash to photograph stars and rest camera on firm surface if possible)

Calling all nature lovers! Grab a camera and head outside. Even if it's just on your way to the car, take a quick sidetrack (just follow your kids, lol). Try to get one photo a day or more and post them on this blog. They don't need to be in any particular order or form. Include stories of your scavenging adventures and add your own items to the list. Let your kids take their own random winter photos and post them too. If you are not a contributor and would like to participate, e-mail your photos to me using the link on my profile or share a link to your photos in the comments section to your blog, facebook, flickr or photobucket album.

Meditation for Christmastide

2009-12-29T10:24:00.000-08:00

Though our secular culture has largely forgotten this, it is actually still Christmas. Christmas begins on December 25 and continues for twelve days (one for each of the tribes of Israel) until Epiphany, January 6, when we remember God's revelation of salvation to the Gentiles through the story of the wise men. So let this be our prayer this Christmas in the midst of our noisy, warring societies, "Da Pacem Domine, Give us peace, Lord."

Christmas at the Hardings

2009-12-28T11:35:00.000-08:00

Here are the stockings and gifts, waiting for Christmas morning.

Oooooh goody goody!

I got more goodies than you!

That's okay. Less is more when you're my age.

We love our new digger from Papa, and Mama's upcycled wool sweater accessories keep us fuzzy and warm.

Catching Up

2009-12-27T10:25:00.000-08:00

This was the first time we made real gingerbread houses. Last year we did a kit from the store, but the gingerbread tasted like it was made from powdered cardboard. Then the Thursday before last we visited our friends, the Childers, from Old Paths Farms (see link in sidebar) and made these houses together. It was a lot of fun and the kids all really enjoyed themselves. Needless to say, they didn't last too long. The kids kept picking the candy off, and, well, Stacy's gingerbread was just too good to resist!

On Friday, the day after, we had our very first winter storm of the season. Luke got to stay home. When the ice and sleet stopped Saturday morning, the kids went outside for a little while and built this little man. That's the closest we've come to having a white Christmas in the 12 years I've lived here in South Carolina. It's also been the coolest and wettest year I've experienced here. Hope to get some Christmas pics up soon.

Scrubby Tubby Bunny Buddy

2009-12-01T13:44:00.000-08:00

This bunny was sort of an accident today. I was trying to figure out a pattern for something else, but I made it too big and decided to try one of those bunnies in Grace's fantastic book, Creative Play For Your Toddler by Christopher Clouder and Janni Nicol.
The instructions are very simple. The whole bunny, except for the ears, is made from a knitted woolen square, or in my case, a crocheted cotton one. First, the four corners are folded into conical shapes and sewn up into legs. Next, the edge between the front legs is gathered up by weaving the yarn through, pulling gently and securing. Stitching is then continued down the belly. A firm stuffing, especially for the head end, is next in order, after which the bottom edge between the hind legs is stitched shut. To form the head, a piece of yarn is tied tightly where the neck should be. The eyes are made by stitching through both sides of the head and tying firmly to form indentations at the correct spots. For the ears, I did about 4 rows of 2 single crochet, followed by a decrease half double crochet, and one last single crochet at the tip. They are stitched to the head folded in two at their base to give them a little firmness. And lastly, instead of following the directions for a pompom tail, I opted for the same method as the head, weaving yarn in a large circle at the rump end and tying it tightly. I also decided to stuff it with polyester filling instead of wool, partly because the wool I ordered hasn't arrived yet, but mostly because I made it to be used in the tub. I couldn't believe how simple it was, and it was so amazing and fun to see it magically take shape. Try one!

Virginia's Progress Report

2009-11-24T10:46:00.000-08:00

Progress Report: Virginia Rose Harding, November, 2009

I am writing the required report early, because the holidays will most likely be filled with far more interesting activities and there will be little time for anything else. And there is so much to include, I am afraid of forgetting some of the many incredible leaps Virginia has made in her development.

As an unschooler, I have taken a very hands off approach, letting Virginia direct most of her own activities, and offering my assistance when she wants it. She keeps Luke and me very busy with the questions she asks, and if she will listen, I will give her the most detailed explanation I can come up with. Papa (Luke) is also a wonderful storyteller, and will recount tales from the Bible, as well as many made up ones, both cute and spooky, to a wide-eyed audience who does not even realize he is teaching them.

At the beginning of the school year, Virginia stated her goals without hesitation. She wanted to learn to cook, to read, to do laundry, learn more math and learn about bugs. In all of these subjects, her interest waxes and wanes, except for learning to cook. And numbers almost always get her excited. Since math skills are involved in cooking, and math is a required subject, I will begin here to chart her progress over the past few months.

Math Skills

Mondays are baking day, usually, and Virginia's job is to make granola. She can now assemble the ingredients, counting and measuring, entirely on her own. She has also learned to cook her favorite breakfast, oatmeal and hot cocoa. And if I tell her the ingredients, she can mix up a batch of cookies. She made oatmeal pancakes from a cookbook we got from the library, and cooked them herself on the griddle. On many occasions I have let her experiment with various ingredients, with some interesting results: She successfully made a cake, including the icing, from scratch, and assembled several fruit salads and bakes. And always, she is enthroned as a little "taste" goddess, distributing bits and bites to her adoring younger siblings.

There are many other ways we experience mathematics together, too numerous to include them all, but here are a few:
1. Playing with money. Virginia can name most of the coins, and knows which are worth more. We have played a game where she pretends to buy items and I give her change, etc.
2. Counting to 100. I printed out a chart and she practiced until she was able to count by 1's and 10's. As a reward, she got to pick out ingredients for ice cream sundaes.
3. Playing with a calculator.
4. Playing with an abacus.
5. Calendar fun. Like, "How may days until Christmas?".
6. Building with Lego. Affords countless problem solving opportunities involving logical deduction, geometry and counting. Virginia surprises us both with some of the models she comes up with.
7. Gardening. Both girls have helped count out seeds, bulbs, etc, and plant them at the proper spacing.

Virginia is able to add and subtract simple problems in her head, involving everyday items she comes across. She enjoys playing with numbers and seems to have effortlessly absorbed the skills she now possesses.

Language Skills

Reading takes a little more effort, but I have been very careful not to force or push since she is so easily discouraged. And patience has paid off! She sat down the other Saturday and did several pages in her phonics workbook that required reading simple words. She still has trouble recognizing some letters in less common fonts, and telling the difference between little b and d, but she has made a lot of progress.

Virginia can now write her own name without help, and several other words she has memorized. She enjoys making grocery lists, asking how to spell her chosen items, though I usually have to take over after 2 or 3. Lately, she has been using her picture/ word books to help her search for images and earn swag bucks for me. Now that's the kind of "school work" I like!

That takes care of the three r's, or at least some of the highlights! On to the sciences, social and otherwise.

Social Studies and Science

The church is the social body wherein our family finds its sole identity. Our gathering for worship and Eucharist with our local congregation, and our gathering with family and Christian friends from other branches of Christ's Church, provides the community within which we learn and grow together. We teach the stories from the Bible with great emphasis on the story part. It is the narrative that shapes our world view and practice. Virginia participates in Sunday School, in the worship and sacraments of our church, and also in our playgroup which evolved from the bimonthly story time at our library. This month, she participated in activities at our library for homeschoolers. Our church is also beginning a Sunday School program based on the Montessori method of teaching, called "Godly Play". And this year, we're helping out by heading up a blanket drive our church is participating in to distribute to the homeless. We got to meet Cheryl and Chris, a wonderful couple who run a food pantry downtown. Virginia also plays with our unchurched friends, whom we treat with equal respect.

Interest in bugs comes and goes. Most observation takes place on an unplanned basis. You never know when you're going to see an interesting one. I printed off a couple pages from one of Donna Young's nature journal templates and Virginia made several drawings. They were all on one page because she made them true to size, or smaller. An ant, a spider, a grasshopper, and a moth with "eyes" on it's wings to scare off predators.

Other inhabitants we have observed in our neck of the woods are:
1.Deer, including a doe with triplet fawns!
2. Chickens and a couple chicks that hatched this summer. We might get some more soon, because our broody black hen is nesting again- on 13 eggs!
3. Squirrels and birds aplenty.
4. Wild turkeys.
5. A baby rabbit Virginia rescued from our dog.

Nutrition is also foremost in our conversations and meal planning. Taming the candy monster hasn't been easy, but Virginia has learned how to identify healthy snacks and meals. We made a nutrition chart , which divides food into three groups- colors (fruits and veggies), whole grains and proteins.

There is a lot to learn and a lot to explore both in the kitchen and on our 17 acres of woods, field, garden and creek. But we also like to get out now and then. Some of the field trips we have taken include:
1. A two mile hike on the nature trail at the historic Cowpens battlefield
2. A visit to Glencora farm
3. A trip to Kidsenses InterActive Museum in Rutherfordton, NC

The most important aspect of our un-school, however, are the activities where progress cannot be easily tracked, but are vital to Virginia's neural, physical and mental development. It is the hours upon hours of unhindered playtime, both indoors and out, that allow her to gain strength of body and clarity of thought as she runs, swings, explores and pedals; confidence tempered with humility as she draws, builds, stirs and learns to deal with her shortcomings; and the ability to express herself in action and word as she pretends with her siblings, dolls and toys.

Lowe's Build and Grow

2009-11-20T14:50:00.000-08:00

I'm going to try to take the kids to this tomorrow. We'll see how it turns out, but I think they will enjoy making some Christmas gifts.

Seth's New Shoes

2009-11-19T10:22:00.001-08:00

Last night, inspired by the moccasins bro-in-law Scott had made for my nephew, Liam (which are waaaay cooler than these), I decided to make some soft soled shoes for Seth out of some suede panels from an old jacket that had a broken zipper. I used this pattern and tutorial , although I had to adapt it a bit to fit his chubby, wide foot. I should have made them even wider because they barely fit. But at least for now, he has something other than socks to keep his little feet warm.

Teething Doll

2009-11-17T14:12:00.000-08:00

Just made this teething doll this afternoon from some organic cotton material I had. The ribbon around the neck is also sewn on. The knots can be soaked in cold water or chamomile tea for baby to chew on.

Lots of Giveaways!

2009-11-16T14:42:00.000-08:00

Kid Senses Museum Trip!

2009-11-15T19:43:00.000-08:00

We visited Kid Senses InterActive museum in Rutherfordton, NC with Aunt Grace, Uncle Jon, Lacey and Simon. It was a hit!

Lacey and Virginia explore magnetic energy

Miriam inside a giant bubble

Lacey and Simon cook in the Little Pueblitos Cafe

Reuben shares a salad with Uncle Jon

Shopping in the little grocery store

Simon likes his apple

the train table

the art room

Reuben discovers how energy travels through objects...

From "Psychology Today"

2009-11-13T08:48:00.000-08:00

Why don't students like school? The same reason I didn't.

Swag Bucks

2009-11-12T09:17:00.000-08:00

My friend from church told me about swag bucks, at it's actually for real! All you have to do to earn SB's is to search the web through their browser, and you'll steadily rack them up. You can redeem them for things like 45 swag bucks for a $5 amazon gift card, or save up tons of them for a camcorder or ipod. It's completely free! I plan on racking up as many as I can and then using them for the amazon giftcards to make a couple Christmas presents free, or at least cheaper.

There are more ways to earn swagbucks as well (the reason I am writing this ;), such as getting people to sign up under you, reading the swag bucks blog, checking the swidget for special codes that will get you one or 2 instant sb's. When people sign up under you, you get as many swag bucks as they get while searching, up until 100. They don't spam your email at all. So far I've been really satisfied, and it's often fun when they have a scavenger hunt out for codes. :) Give it a try! http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/Arianllyn
If you have any questions just leave a comment on this post and I'll try and get back to you.

Enchanted Autumn Days

2009-11-07T13:45:00.000-08:00

Another giveaway on the Euphoria blog!

2009-11-04T07:00:00.001-08:00

This giveaway is a book this time. I've been wanting to read the book. I think it could help my family do more creative things together.

http://www.euphoriababy.com/blog/uncategorized/enter-to-win-the-creative-family-by-amanda-soule/comment-page-1/#comment-1728

Hard Science and Swine Flu Vaccines

2009-11-03T08:44:00.000-08:00

Here is the testimony of Dr. Blaylock, neurosurgeon and neuroscience researcher, providing evidence from studies published in the most accredited medical and scientific journals available that vaccines are harmful, especially to the developing brains of infants and babies in the womb.

It has been claimed that vaccines are not linked to autism, but Dr. Blaylock reveals this to be a lie, having reviewed and reported on studies that incontrovertibly prove that vaccines can cause autism and all kinds of neurological and behavioral problems. In order to avoid massive lawsuits, health experts have deliberately dodged the truth and given false information to the public.

Our culture has a far more serious disease, however. Our tendency to take revenge when we have been wronged has created this mass defense mechanism in those we trust to take care of our health. Doctors, most of whom have given these vaccines in good faith, and thinking they are doing good to their patients, should receive our support, not our condemnation, so that they will be empowered to face the facts, the good, proven science behind those who campaign for a heightened awareness of the dangers of vaccines, and thus take steps to help repair the damage along with the parents of vaccine injured children, without fear of lawsuit.

Horse Drawing Contest

2009-10-26T06:19:00.000-07:00

Virginia entered this drawing in a contest held by Tractor Supply Company. I snapped this picture before we mailed it in.

ABC's of me

2009-10-23T13:49:00.000-07:00

I got tagged by Sara!

A - Age: 27
B - Bed size: queen, and I wish I had a California king (well, I do, sort of...!)
C - Chore you hate: Sara' right...poopy diapers are nasty, but I really REALLY hate washing lettuce.
D - Dog's name: Liam...oh wait, he's my son
E - Essential start your day item: food
F - Favorite color: green and brown
G - Gold or Silver: silver
H - Height: 5'.6 1/2"
I - I am: adventurous
J - Job: Mom and Wife and apartment homesteader
K - Kids: Liam
L - Living arrangements: Apartment....tiny one, too.
M - Mom's name: Gayl
N - Nicknames: My favorite one is Babe.
O - Overnight hospital stay: When I was born, most likely.
P - Pet Peeve: when people say "their" when they mean "him" or "her"
Q - Quote from a movie: "Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice: pull down your pants and slide on the ice!" (M*A*S*H)
R - Right or left handed: right
S - Siblings: Sara, Jamie, Grace, Stephen, Alan, Robert
T - Time you wake up: Between 8-9
U- Underwear: cotton, sometimes
V - Vegetable you dislike: cabbage
W - Ways you run late: can't decide what to wear, sudden poopy diapers, baby sleeping....
X - X-rays you've had: teeth and spine
Y - Yummy food you make: Curried Lamb, among many others
Z - Zoo favorite: Monkeys!

Now it's your turn!
I'm tagging the other contributors on this blog!

ABC's of me

2009-10-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

I got tagged by Kelly from Jelly Beans.

A - Age: 33
B - Bed size: full (very full when the kids are in it too)
C - Chore you hate: hate, well that's a little strong, but I don't relish washing out the poopy diapers
D - Dog's name: Sally and Lassie
E - Essential start your day item: a cuppa! (that's hot tea in Brit lingo)
F - Favorite color: Green
G - Gold or Silver: silver
H - Height: 5'.7"
I - I am: Happy!
J - Job: Mom and Wife, gardener
K - Kids: Virginia, Miriam, Reuben and Seth
L - Living arrangements: single wide trailer on 17 acres
M - Mom's name: Gayl
N - Nicknames: uhh, my sisters have called me things like Sissypoo and Pollymolly- (especially when they wanted to annoy me)
O - Overnight hospital stay: none
P - Pet Peeve: whining- I have zero tolerance for whining.
Q - Quote from a movie: "It's but a flesh wound.", "Run away, run away!", "I'm not dead yet!" (what else is there to quote from???)
R - Right or left handed: right
S - Siblings: Jamie, Marianne, Grace, Stephen, Alan, Robert
T - Time you wake up: 7:30
U- Underwear: Yes
V - Vegetable you dislike: eggplant
W - Ways you run late: kids can't find shoes, forgot the cell phone, to name a few
X - X-rays you've had: teeth, chest, knee, head
Y - Yummy food you make: apple pie
Z - Zoo favorite: I really hate seeing animals in cages, but trained sea lions are really cool

Now it's your turn!
I'm tagging the other contributors on this blog!

I do not want this blog to be political, but....

2009-10-16T19:26:00.000-07:00

...there are things every US citizen should know about when it comes to their rights to make decisions for their families' health. These rights can be overrode since the Patriot Act and it's offspring.

MODEL STATE HEALTH EMERGENCY POWERS ACTS
Since September 11, 2001, most state legislatures have approved the re-writing of state public health laws to conform with provisions outlined in the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act (MSEHPA).

The MSEHPA is model state legislation that was funded, developed and promoted by CDC
officials and others advocating granting expanded police powers to state public health officials to enforce quarantine and mandatory use of vaccines during public health emergencies declared by state Governors.

Under state public health emergency laws, public health and law enforcement may be authorized to:

Take control of all roads leading into and out of your community, city or state;

Enter homes and businesses without consent to investigate and decontaminate property;

Appropriate property, including communications devices (computers, cell phones, fax machines, land line telephones), transportation vehicles, fuel, firearms, food, alcoholic beverages and other items and not be held liable if these actions result in destruction of personal property;

Examine, detain, isolate, quarantine citizens and vaccinate or medicate citizens without informed consent and not be held liable if these actions result in injury or death of citizens.

However, the legal authority to enforce public health emergency laws does not mean that public health officials will choose to enforce them.

Read more from the National Vaccine Information Center.

Vaccines Not Responsible For Decline in Disease Mortality

2009-10-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

Here is an article with graphs taken from vital statistics records in the US and UK showing how deaths from infectious diseases (including polio) had dramatically declined long before vaccines for them became available.

Vitamin C, si - Flu Vaccine, no

2009-10-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

Another illuminating article by Sardi. Taking adequate vitamin C is now a matter of life and death, not just for easing colds and allergies.

The American Flu Charade

2009-10-12T11:41:00.000-07:00

Beware of the vaccine for swine flu. It may cause a worse epidemic than what is claimed it prevents. Read about it here.

My opinion is that when politicians and politician owned "big pharma" repeat things over and over, it's probably a lie.

This is so cool

2009-10-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

Seth's Day of Baptism

2009-09-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a nap in Grandma's arms...

giveaways!!!

2009-09-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite online shops is having a giveaway! A 7 piece nursing wardrobe. Check it out! All you have to do is leave a comment on their post about their site.

http://euphoriamaternity.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/enter-to-win-a-nursing-wardrobe-from-blissful-babes/

Sundaes!

2009-09-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

I told Virginia that when she learned to count to 100 using the number chart, we would have ice cream sundaes and she could pick the toppings. And yesterday she did it!

Seth at 10 weeks

2009-09-10T12:29:00.000-07:00

all smiles

the whole gang

love and cuddles

Kevin is 1!!!

2009-09-06T07:52:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that one short year ago Kevin made his entrance into this world. I can remember a lot of it like it was yesterday. Happy Birthday to my sweet little man!!!

We all have colds right now so it was a bit of a challenge to sing the "Happy Birthday" song, but Kaitlin led us valiantly.

A simple slice of cheesecake can bring so much joy! Here's to a great year and some new experiences with solid food!

A Princess Birthday Tea

2009-08-19T06:07:00.001-07:00

Virginia Rose turned six yesterday. She and Miriam and their two friends, Clara and Lindy, decorated these cupcakes for their tea party.

Make a wish!

Here are the (dainty?) princesses sipping their tea.
Virginia was the perfect hostess. She lay the tea table with a lacy cloth and Mama's china, and some party favors, and even poured the tea for her guests.

Here is one happy princess. Papa picked out the best present!

My Little Chef

2009-08-16T13:37:00.000-07:00

I asked Virginia what she wanted to learn for school this year, and she said she wanted to learn to read, to cook, do laundry and learn about bugs. Miriam also said she wanted to learn more about ABC's, to cook, and also drive the car! So yesterday we took a family trip (Miriam didn't drive, btw) to the library and found lots of good books. I found a children's cookbook called "Kids in the Kitchen" which featured easy recipes, most of which were very healthy too. Virginia looked at the book and decided she wanted to make oatmeal pancakes for dinner. She did almost everything herself, even poured the batter and flipped the pancakes. They were delicious. We enjoyed them with some colcannon (an Irish potato and cabbage dish) and apple butter we made earlier that morning.

I Lost A Tooth!

2009-08-12T10:33:00.001-07:00

Toast Please

2009-08-11T09:38:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we all worked together to create this mouthwatering wild muscadine jam. Luke, using a ladder and handmade picker, harvested the grapes from the shrubs at the edge of our meadow. He managed to get a whole gallon. The girls then helped me pull them off the stems. Virginia also helped to stir the pot of strained juice and pulp and sugar, which cooked into jam. Reuben (and everyone else but Seth) taste tested. We had broccoli cheddar omelets and jam with biscuits for dinner! Mmmmm.
If you would like to read more about how to make this scrumptious spread read my latest hub here.

Seth at 5 weeks

2009-08-10T06:43:00.000-07:00

Teeth

2009-08-05T11:29:00.001-07:00

Okay, so some people have been after us to post here, so I suppose I'll do so. We've given up toothpaste.

Okay, now the initial gasp is over, I'll explain. We've moved from using toothpaste to using tooth powder. I got the idea from my research into early 20th Century life, but found some

natural recipes. It doesn't have that nasty toothpaste taste and my teeth and mouth feel cleaner than they ever did right after brushing.

After messing about with ratios, I finally hit on 4:1 mixture of baking soda and sea salt with several drops of peppermint oil. I mix the baking soda and salt then drip in the oil. Then I stir it up again and mush up the clumps caused by the oil to get an even distribution. I put it in a container that used to hold breath mints and a mixture with 6 tablespoons of baking soda fills it up and it lasts for several weeks.

To use it, I wet my toothbrush, then give it a good shake. This leaves me with damp bristles which I touch to the tooth powder. You only need a small amount and if you leave the tooth brush in too long, the water seeps into the tooth powder and you're left with clumpy tooth powder.

It's a Boy!!!!

2009-07-03T06:31:00.000-07:00

Seth Warren Harding joined us Thursday morning at 7am, weighing 9 lbs 3 oz.
More pictures here!

Diaper Tutorial Contest!!!

2009-06-24T07:34:00.000-07:00

The prize is a $150 gift certificate to Baby Cotton Bottoms, a cloth diaper and babywearing online store.

I have entered two tutorials- The No Sew T-shirt Diaper and my "Bunchies" Adjustable Fitted Diapers. Leaving comments and ratings will help the judges choose, so stop by and have a look! And if you have any tricks or designs for making cheap cloth diapers, or know someone who does, spread the word and join the fun!

Here's a Doodle!

2009-06-17T11:51:00.001-07:00

We haven't had any posts about polliwogs yet, though perhaps my brothers will take pics of some marine life on their upcoming trip to the beach (hint hint). But recently my kids have been enjoying some doodles with an imaginary character named Harold who has a magical purple crayon. You can read all about it in my new hub article. Here is the first paragraph:

Who does not remember that magical time when, with a box of new crayons and a fresh sheet of paper, a world of infinite possibility was opened before us? We could do anything, and anything could happen.

Enjoy the rest of the article and the link to the series on hulu!

This Good Day

2009-06-15T05:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a surprise! Nana (Mom) and Pop Harding came for a visit, bringing a delicious lunch and lots of other goodies. But best of all, we had a lovely afternoon spending time together. Pop and Luke tinkered with Luke's old '63 Ford truck while Nana played with and read to her grandkids, chatted with me, did the dishes- (I don't know how she managed, but she did pretty much all of it at the same time.) Thanks to you both for everything!

I needed a lift last week end, and God had the perfect solution! It put me in mind of this song.

Make a Wish and Blow!

2009-06-12T05:55:00.000-07:00

My little Miriam is 4 years old now!

The Extra Mile

2009-06-02T16:40:00.000-07:00

Lacey helped me mix up pancakes for supper, but she took it a step further than usual. When I had to leave the room to get Simon who had just woken up. I walked back into the kitchen, hearing her say: "Mama, I'm doing dis for you." She put them all on the griddle, being very careful as I cautioned her about the heat, and I flipped them for her. Such a tender and helpful spirit!