Tagged: Home and Family

All things pertaining to home and garden.

Play is a child's work; based on Winslow Homer's "Snap the Whip"

Play is a Child’s Work

Deep meaning lies often in childish play. -Johann Friedrich von Schiller The outdoors used to be a place where children could run, play, build, create, and do the mildly hazardous things children love to do. I remember walking the 5′...

The Angelus by Francois Millet is a lovely painting depicting a young couple pausing for prayer in the middle of the day.

Gratefulness and Thanksgiving

Enjoy a poem (Gratefulnesse by George Herbert); a recipe (cranberry-orange relish), and a Thanksgiving sale, aka Homeschool Black Friday).

Homeschooling Homesteaders: Teaching Self-Reliance Skills

Self-reliance means looking ahead, anticipating potential dangers, and setting aside resources to care for your family in the event of an emergency. Come to the Self-Reliance Expo to find resources and learn how.

Blog Carnival: Summer Isn’t Over Yet

The Blog Carnival offers inspiration and encouragement as summer winds down and school begins. Enjoy!

Plan to live life on purpose.

Plan to Live Life on Purpose

Create a mission statement, goals, and a plan to help you make time for things that matter.

Make Time for Things that Matter: Impact and Significance

Making time for significance I had the opportunity to speak on “Making Time for Things that Matter” at the Ultimate Homeschool Expo last week, and I’ve also been reading a book called Eternal Impact: Investing in the Lives of Others...

A quilt for my granddaughter.

The Blessing of Creative Handwork

Helping your children learn to use their hands creatively can help develop imagination, creativity, and fine motor skills and will provide them with the means of giving unique and beautiful gifts to others, even on a very small budget.

Advice for Friends of Caregivers

Advice for Friends of Caregivers

Caregivers face daily challenges, but friends who are understanding and kind can make the path easier.

Caregiving for Homeschool Families: Some Questions to Consider

Homeschool families are notoriously family-centered, but I’ve recently been hearing questions and concerns about caregiving while homeschooling, so I thought I’d share a few thoughts here. Most of the people who have asked questions have been thinking about their parents...

Wishing You A Joyous Thanksgiving- Here’s a Recipe and a Sale!

I sent out the relish recipe in the newsletter and thought I’d post it here as well. One of our readers in Malaysia reminded me that they have no cranberries there. I sometimes forget that even small things such as...

Requiem for Clue- A Very Old Dog: 1996-2009

Today we said good-bye to dear old friend. It’s never easy, and I’ll miss his ancient tottering steps following me through the house from dawn to dark. Today is the first time I’ve sat in my office chair, without needing...

The Angelus by Francois Millet is a lovely painting depicting a young couple pausing for prayer in the middle of the day.

“Gratefulness”- A Poem of Thanksgiving and a Recipe

This is my favorite Thanksgiving poem, and if you have been with me for many years, you know that you’ll receive it each year as my Thanksgiving “article.” It is a poem of grace and beauty, and I hope you...

Test Prep Workshops and a Few Special Links

I saw the first yellow leaves falling today; the pinks, hollyhocks, and marigolds are all setting seed; and homeschool groups are scheduling SAT and Beat-the-Clock Essay Workshops– fall must be on its way! It really seems too soon. It seems...

Summertime- Blake, Rilke, Sandburg, Shakespeare

Summer has begun– a slower, sweeter time of year for many families. I enjoy each month of the year as it arrives, but the lushness of summer greens is a special delight. Each time I pick roses, I gather a...

Light affects color in ways you might not expect.

A Science Mystery Solved: Color and Light

We had an unexpected lesson in the science of color and light this past week. Donald graciously used most of his vacation week to paint our kitchen and dining room, and it was one of those snowball projects. We were...

In the Garden- An 1899 Excerpt

This time of year I am besotted by the garden, and have great difficulty staying indoors for any length of time at all. In fact, anything on my horizon that doesn’t need to be fed or planted seems dim and...