Our family is participating in a great community supported garden program up at Sunset View Farms in Lafayette. My focus is on the 20×30 plot we’re tending, while Claire is enjoying her time chasing around the chicken and sneaking worms into her pockets. Here’s the cast of characters so far: The goat. Claire’s favorite mammal on the farm and her curiosity (and love of grass … Continue reading E-I-E-I-O
Our state might have gotten hit with a blizzard but Claire and I are enjoying just a little bit of spring in the house. About 3 weeks ago I grabbed some clippings of our forsythia bushes and then, just in time for a whole pile of snow they decided to burst into bloom, what a treat to see these flowers as we look out onto … Continue reading A Breath of Spring
Persistent, obsessed, manic…these might be the words to describe Claire’s new found insistence on independence. Any attempt to help is met with foot stomping, eyebrow scrunching and an adamant – “I do it myself!!” The latest battle of wills is over zipping up the coat. I’m doing my best to leave time before outings so Claire can work it out herself. Most of the time, … Continue reading Do it MYSELF!
Want to know my thoughts on outdoor play? I consider it an absolute necessity for all children (and adults!) I read a great article recently about “Nature Deficit Disorder” and couldn’t agree more with the author Richard Louv (Last Child in the Woods) that kids today are disconnected from nature and spending way too much time in front of the boob tube and computer screen. … Continue reading On Going Outside
Today’s messy project with Claire was for the birds – literally. Every year (see here, here, and here!) we put out feeders for our feathered friends and watch as they feast from our own warm perch indoors. There’s usually a nice assortment of species: downy woodpeckers, nuthatches, tufted titmice, chickadees, black capped chickadees, bluejays, mourning doves, cardinals and the occasional (and very cool) piliated woodpecker. … Continue reading Peanut, Peanut Butter – And Birdseed!
Since I left teaching 2 years ago to stay home with Claire the thing I miss most is being next door to the school’s library. The computer lab was a prime piece of real estate – air conditioned, great software and nearby BOOKS! The books! I LOVE books! I nearly made it through the entire YA bookshelf in my time at Hilltop. In addition to … Continue reading Books!
The other working title I was toying with:Regina did WHAT with a cake stand? LOL Another rainy day has spoiled my plan for raising a nature-loving kid who spends much time outdoors swimming, running and chasing after the multitude of critters in our yard. It has rained so much this summer! Granted, playing outside in the rain doesn’t bother me – Claire’s even got the … Continue reading Can you say Entomologist?
Chalk In My Pocket 