Monday, July 29, 2013
Friday, July 26, 2013
Friday blog review: Ben Hewitt
I discovered this little blog through another - Soulemama (my favourite for a long time for instant inspiration). Its written by father of two Ben, who unschools his boys on their farm and I find myself laughing and nodding my head a lot when I have time to read one or two of his posts. He is funny in a way that I understand, likes to 'tell it how it is', which I appreciate, and is yet another blog that I follow where children are not formally schooled.
Now I'm not sure where this is heading for me, but I definitely seem to read a lot about others not schooling their children in the traditional way. More to come on this I think...
Anyway, what I do really love about Ben's blog is his passion for an authentic education for his boys. Unschooling is definitely not just a default option for him and his wife, this is what they believe to be the best education they can give their children and I find myself mesmerised by his description of their life together. They play on their farm, in nature, help with baling hay or feeding animals and play with handmade toys. It sounds like a eutopia of some sort and, like Soulemama, I am turning to this blog with joy and genuine interest almost daily now for some inspiration and new thoughts.
Enjoy
Now I'm not sure where this is heading for me, but I definitely seem to read a lot about others not schooling their children in the traditional way. More to come on this I think...
Anyway, what I do really love about Ben's blog is his passion for an authentic education for his boys. Unschooling is definitely not just a default option for him and his wife, this is what they believe to be the best education they can give their children and I find myself mesmerised by his description of their life together. They play on their farm, in nature, help with baling hay or feeding animals and play with handmade toys. It sounds like a eutopia of some sort and, like Soulemama, I am turning to this blog with joy and genuine interest almost daily now for some inspiration and new thoughts.
Enjoy
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Nature girls
In the hub-bub of a busy school and work week its nice to take a break and spend some time playing in nature. Yesterday the girls and I took ourselves off to Mountain Creek for some painting, wandering and playing in nature in the sunshine. A lovely day for us all...
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| An Eastern Yellow Robin fluttered gracefully around for a while |
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| In the 'cubby' we built |
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| the girls in the cubby |
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| On our nature walk - the river we followed flows off Mt Bogong and was bubbling along with snow melt |
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| A cute hand-me-down skirt we got from a friend today - do you, like me, love little girls in skirts and dresses in the bush? |
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Organising us
Lately (I seem to say this a lot!) I've been on a bit of an organising frenzy. Well...not quite a frenzy, its more like something growing bigger, more developed and more well...organised. I haven't really been into organisation, except within a workplace, for quite a few years now. And although its good to let things go a bit, be flexible and see how things pan out, particularly with little ones in tow, its also good to balance that with an overall plan that helps us to go in the direction we dream about. There is definitely a place for reflection, dreaming and planning, this Mama thinks.
My approach to organising is part-practical, part-inspirational. There's really no point planning, I think, if there's not the inspiration to direct those plans. Pictures and quotes usually send me off on an inspirational tangent - thus our quote board in the kitchen and pinboards with colourful pictures attached. I use my ipad and computer daily however I prefer my inspiration to come from more visceral sources also - I like writing my current favourite quote in chalk - old fashioned but solid and real, with chalk dust left on my fingers as evidence. And the act of pinning something on a board somehow makes it more tangible (to me at least) and therefore more likely to come to fruition (although I do like pinterest when I have time for the large number of images I can search).
Happy dreaming to you all, from my 100th post (yay!)
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| My kitchen organisation corner - the hub of our family organising |
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| Rosie's violin chart - to help keep track of how much she's practicing with just a little enticement at the end. |
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| Lists of the 'good things' about being at school and at home - because we all need a reminder that the glass is half-full. |
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| Our letter and number wall - this has helped Rosie for a couple of years now |
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| Rosie's pinboard - a place to learn about the calendar and celebrate important achievements. |
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| Our number chart - written by Rosie to help with numeracy |
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| My garden board - for both inspiration and planning |
Happy dreaming to you all, from my 100th post (yay!)
Monday, July 22, 2013
Playful learning spaces
It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them. - Leo F. Buscaglia
Oh, I do so love play. I love that playful feeling you get when you're learning and having fun at the same time. I see it so often, too, in our girls. They play with things, they learn more about them, and in the process they learn just a bit more about themselves.
So, since this Mama is also an educator at heart, we have a houseful of little nooks and crannies designed to encourage just this kind of playful learning, out-of-the-box thoughts and lateral thinking.
These aren't detailed, specific 'learning stations' like you might have in a classroom - more like open-ended play corners that the girls can pick and choose from, mix up together, drag apart - whatever takes their fancy whenever we're at home. Of course, these spaces also move from time to time and change shape or focus to suit our needs and keep up daily inspiration. But there's always a reading corner (such as important part of our family's life), a cleared table for creating on (our 'blank slate'), soft floor cushions and couches for reflective moments (or beds, or cubby house walls....), dolls and bears for imaginary play, a dress-up box and lately an Australian geography corner in preparation for our all-Australia travels next year.
I've written about the importance of play before because its just such a cornerstone of our approach to parenting and life. This mama very strongly believes that a playful family is a healthy family.
Good day to you all!
Sunday, July 21, 2013
The overall effect (a.k.a. lowering my expectations)
Oh, this tears at the heart of this Mama. For so long I've strived to be everything, aimed too high and exhausted myself in the process. I think what I have needed is to lower my expectations. But to be honest folks, I'm scared. In fact I'm filled with dread and anxiety at the thought of even discussing this.
I think, and this is delving deeply, that lowering my expectations is synonymous with dying to me. That perfectionistic, high-achieving part of myself is screaming out No! Let me live. Let me drive your life.
But I don't want that to drive my life anymore. At the very least its unhealthy for me, and at the very best it could change my life. Though, like sugar, I recognise that aiming high is not in itself a bad thing. Its just that it gets out of control for me and I lose perspective (and then gain anxiety, depression etc...).
What I want is to lower many of my expectations, but not all. Don't get me wrong here - I don't wan to aim low or aim for nothing (heaven forbid). But I do want to let down those expectations that I have of myself and others that are unrealistic and do more harm than good. (Of course what is realistic to one can be unrealistic to another but that's for another post methinks).
For example; it would do this Mama some good to lower her expectations about how many children she 'should' have ('should' is definitely worth another post). Somewhere in my head I think that more children equals better parenting, or perhaps more worthwhile parenting. Two children was definitely not on the agenda. And yet now I find myself very happy with my two little cherubs, but still beat myself up inside about not having more. And here's the crux of it: sometimes this Mama thinks she's not good enough because she's 'only had two children'.
Clearly this is not a helpful thought, but it continues to pop up and reinforces an expectation that's unrealistically high.
I could think (and I am working on this one, its BIG) that two children are just fine and its the love I give that's important. I could also imagine that I do have more children already (my own inner child, Ian's inner child, other people's children we see and play with, my niece and nephew...). Everyone's a child really, adults just have other layers of maturity too.
Its just that lowering this expectation (and others like it) requires quite a leap of faith, quite a letting go that fills me with dread and fear. Like a massive mountain I need to scale.
So I tell myself its the overall effect that's important. Its not the detail (which I get bogged down in) and it doesn't need to be perfect or exactly what I imagined (because I have a strong imagination). Saying this to myself helps to curb my perfectionism by focusing on the big picture, helping me to forgive myself for mistakes and encouraging me to take a deep breathe and stop doing - and then I can better appreciate what I've done.
Its such an important thought for me - and perhaps, dear readers, if perfectionism and anxiety is a problem for you it might help too. Its the overall effect you see....
I think, and this is delving deeply, that lowering my expectations is synonymous with dying to me. That perfectionistic, high-achieving part of myself is screaming out No! Let me live. Let me drive your life.
But I don't want that to drive my life anymore. At the very least its unhealthy for me, and at the very best it could change my life. Though, like sugar, I recognise that aiming high is not in itself a bad thing. Its just that it gets out of control for me and I lose perspective (and then gain anxiety, depression etc...).
What I want is to lower many of my expectations, but not all. Don't get me wrong here - I don't wan to aim low or aim for nothing (heaven forbid). But I do want to let down those expectations that I have of myself and others that are unrealistic and do more harm than good. (Of course what is realistic to one can be unrealistic to another but that's for another post methinks).
For example; it would do this Mama some good to lower her expectations about how many children she 'should' have ('should' is definitely worth another post). Somewhere in my head I think that more children equals better parenting, or perhaps more worthwhile parenting. Two children was definitely not on the agenda. And yet now I find myself very happy with my two little cherubs, but still beat myself up inside about not having more. And here's the crux of it: sometimes this Mama thinks she's not good enough because she's 'only had two children'.
Clearly this is not a helpful thought, but it continues to pop up and reinforces an expectation that's unrealistically high.
I could think (and I am working on this one, its BIG) that two children are just fine and its the love I give that's important. I could also imagine that I do have more children already (my own inner child, Ian's inner child, other people's children we see and play with, my niece and nephew...). Everyone's a child really, adults just have other layers of maturity too.
Its just that lowering this expectation (and others like it) requires quite a leap of faith, quite a letting go that fills me with dread and fear. Like a massive mountain I need to scale.
So I tell myself its the overall effect that's important. Its not the detail (which I get bogged down in) and it doesn't need to be perfect or exactly what I imagined (because I have a strong imagination). Saying this to myself helps to curb my perfectionism by focusing on the big picture, helping me to forgive myself for mistakes and encouraging me to take a deep breathe and stop doing - and then I can better appreciate what I've done.
Its such an important thought for me - and perhaps, dear readers, if perfectionism and anxiety is a problem for you it might help too. Its the overall effect you see....
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Family at home
This week we took Rosie out of school for a day to spend with family at home. In our life at the moment there aren't many days when all four of us have a whole day together. Either Ian is working, or I'm working, or there is a race or some training session that is important for Ian to participate in. Thursday happened to be a day when neither of us was required at work and training was short and early - a perfect day for Rosie to spend with us.
We also believe that a day spend in nature, with family, leads to greater holistic learning than a day spent as school. That's not to say that we don't want her at school at all. There are definite positives for her being there too. Its just that our balance lies in a bit of both.
So we began our day with a trip to the mountain bike park across the road where we set up our play tepee (sown by yours truly), listened to the Kookaburras laughing at us, watched kangaroos and Crimson Rosellas through our binoculars and did some painting. It was overcast and cool, but the girls enjoyed exploring the grass, hills, forest and mud. One great thing about living in Mount Beauty is the proximity of bushland to our home - with only a 5 minute walk we were in the bush, with lovely views, wild native animals and flora.
After a play back at home, we had lunch, Rosie practiced her violin and the words she's working on at school at the moment, then we spent the afternoon in the garden pruning and fertilising fruit trees and veggies and improving the chicken pen (for our adventurous chooks). Sometimes the girls helped, sometimes they played in the sandpit or in Rosie's 'outdoor circus' that she's constructed, or in the fairy garden. It was free, unstructured time in the garden - so worthwhile to the development of creativity and identity.
We also believe that a day spend in nature, with family, leads to greater holistic learning than a day spent as school. That's not to say that we don't want her at school at all. There are definite positives for her being there too. Its just that our balance lies in a bit of both.
So we began our day with a trip to the mountain bike park across the road where we set up our play tepee (sown by yours truly), listened to the Kookaburras laughing at us, watched kangaroos and Crimson Rosellas through our binoculars and did some painting. It was overcast and cool, but the girls enjoyed exploring the grass, hills, forest and mud. One great thing about living in Mount Beauty is the proximity of bushland to our home - with only a 5 minute walk we were in the bush, with lovely views, wild native animals and flora.
After a play back at home, we had lunch, Rosie practiced her violin and the words she's working on at school at the moment, then we spent the afternoon in the garden pruning and fertilising fruit trees and veggies and improving the chicken pen (for our adventurous chooks). Sometimes the girls helped, sometimes they played in the sandpit or in Rosie's 'outdoor circus' that she's constructed, or in the fairy garden. It was free, unstructured time in the garden - so worthwhile to the development of creativity and identity.
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| Our fantastic, portable paint set |
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| Painting in nature - such a great way to develop observation skills and an appreciation of nature |
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| Bethany joined in too |
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| Watching a flock of Crimson Rosellas - Rosie's skill with the binoculars is improving |
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| Bethany loves to hug trees at the moment |
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| Heath (Epacris) growing in the Mountain Bike Park |
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| A flock of Sulphur crested Cockatoos feeding in the leaves |
Friday, July 19, 2013
Knitting with friends
Click, clack go the needles. Conversation flows. A slice of sourdough, some homemade pumpkin soup and the sounds of our young girls at play.
Ahhhhh. Such a satisfying day.
My cowl, so dreamed about for so long, has now begun to take shape. And, after looking at several patterns on ravelry, I decided to make up my own pattern. Its not that hard after all, especially if I keep it simple. So....
Cast on 200 or so stitches onto 5mm circular needles (no need to be exact here)
Knit in the round until I use up my two beautiful skeins of Malabrigo 100% Peruvian wool in Purple Mystery...or until wide enough, whichever comes first.
Uncomplicated? Yes, but at the moment I just want to knit without thinking about patterns. Well...without thinking at all really. I want to feel the meditative rhythm of the needles as I guide the wool around them. I want to feel the pure joy of creating something warm and colourful just for me.
*sigh*
So, dreamy interludes aside, this Mama had a lovely day with another special Mama this week. We knitted, we ate, we talked (and we were interrupted by a rude neighbour who didn't appreciate our adventurous chickens in his yard, but that's another story) and we had a lovely, lovely time. Thank-you my special friend - lets do it again soon....
Ahhhhh. Such a satisfying day.
My cowl, so dreamed about for so long, has now begun to take shape. And, after looking at several patterns on ravelry, I decided to make up my own pattern. Its not that hard after all, especially if I keep it simple. So....
Cast on 200 or so stitches onto 5mm circular needles (no need to be exact here)
Knit in the round until I use up my two beautiful skeins of Malabrigo 100% Peruvian wool in Purple Mystery...or until wide enough, whichever comes first.
Uncomplicated? Yes, but at the moment I just want to knit without thinking about patterns. Well...without thinking at all really. I want to feel the meditative rhythm of the needles as I guide the wool around them. I want to feel the pure joy of creating something warm and colourful just for me.
*sigh*
So, dreamy interludes aside, this Mama had a lovely day with another special Mama this week. We knitted, we ate, we talked (and we were interrupted by a rude neighbour who didn't appreciate our adventurous chickens in his yard, but that's another story) and we had a lovely, lovely time. Thank-you my special friend - lets do it again soon....
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| The beginning of my cowl |
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| Yet another sourdough loaf consumed |
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| A special friend knitting a cardy for her daughter |
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| Some interesting knitting techniques were on display |
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| Sunshine, some knitting...what more could you ask for? |
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Blog review: Little Eco Footprints
I have discovered a delightful little blog called Little Eco Footprints. I love that its Australian, that its written by a Mama of two girls and most of all that this family is working towards a sustainable life full of learning and growing together.
After a read of several posts I've picked one that hits the spot for me at the moment - Learning to be a slow spender. As I've written in several posts recently (Little Treasures, Our $21 Challenge, part 1 and part 2), we are on a mission to reduce our spending and really bring more awareness to what we do with our money and what we bring into our home. Tricia writes in this post about the 'old-fashioned' concepts of saving for things first (rather than spending on credit), using lay-by to save up for purchases (rather than buying it now, probably on credit) and resisting the urge to buy what you see and to wait for something cheaper or free to turn up that will do the same job. Really its about patience and trust.
Now this Mama hasn't been known for her patience in the past (although in my defence I have improved a lot) and trust is something that I'm learning to focus on more and more. But despite this I like the ideas in Tricia's post and feel like its adding another piece to our budget puzzle.
After a read of several posts I've picked one that hits the spot for me at the moment - Learning to be a slow spender. As I've written in several posts recently (Little Treasures, Our $21 Challenge, part 1 and part 2), we are on a mission to reduce our spending and really bring more awareness to what we do with our money and what we bring into our home. Tricia writes in this post about the 'old-fashioned' concepts of saving for things first (rather than spending on credit), using lay-by to save up for purchases (rather than buying it now, probably on credit) and resisting the urge to buy what you see and to wait for something cheaper or free to turn up that will do the same job. Really its about patience and trust.
Now this Mama hasn't been known for her patience in the past (although in my defence I have improved a lot) and trust is something that I'm learning to focus on more and more. But despite this I like the ideas in Tricia's post and feel like its adding another piece to our budget puzzle.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Homemade
Homemade has been on the agenda in an increasing way lately for us. Our sourdough loaves continue (and continue to improve methinks), the homemade butter still delights us and our visitors and now we've added homemade pasta to our repertoire.
My oh my, I had never really eaten pasta before Ian's homemade spaghetti noodles. I mean, I'd eaten that stuff that comes in packets, dried from the supermarket of course. But fresh, soft, long pasta made from flour and Henny Penny's eggs. *Mmmmm*.
The colour, texture and taste was truly wonderful - and the girls had seconds. Best of all though? Ian put his love and effort proudly into their creation. Seriously. Awesome. Any man who makes me pasta from scratch gets big ticks in my book.
So all this homemade, real food has got this mama thinking - what's so special about homemade? I mean, its trendy (think recycling, upcycling, repurposing etc...) and all that, but that's never been something to drive this mama.
What is it that's driving me and us on this homemade journey?
Firstly its all about connectedness and being more down to earth. My post-natal depression came as a surprise, but looking back I can see the lesson in the challenge - I've been too far from the ground for too long. I've been unanchored and floating. I thought that was the freedom I wanted (and perhaps for a while it was). From trying to be too much to trying to be like others to trying to do everything, I was exhausted even before we brought Rosie into the world. Handmaking things for us brings me closer to who I am and what I have right now.
Homemade is also about valuing the traditions of old, about connecting (again) with our family's past - Nan and Mum both knit, sew and fix cloth. They cook from scratch. They grow fruit and veggies. Pa, who is no longer with us in person, was the first one to be in the garden, growing and sowing, weeding and feeding. This is our heritage and its one that I want to carry on for myself and our little family.
Homemade is also about valuing our individuality. With homemade food, clothes, toys etc... we move away from consumerism, mass marketing and the treadmill urging us to have the same as everyone else. We are all individuals and our homemade approach helps to value and develop our uniqueness.
Focussing on a handmade home also brings balance to this world of technological wizardry and ever-increasing computing speed. Yes, this mama has an iphone, an ipad and blog that she loves, but she doesn't like the feeling of trying to keep up with something new everyday (every hour?). That speed leaves me feeling even more unanchored and increases my anxiety. Our girls deserve a chance to choose what works for them too. In our house we remain relatively unplugged from this world. Making things by hand, knowing where they came from and how they were put together balances the great unknowns of our technology and the system we live in.
This is why I value homemade for our little family of four learners. Most of the time though I don't think about these reasons. I just know that it feels good. That I feel calm and in control when I use my hands as much as my head to make something for us.
Wishing you, dear readers, a lovely, lovely day.
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| Ian's spaghetti creations |
The colour, texture and taste was truly wonderful - and the girls had seconds. Best of all though? Ian put his love and effort proudly into their creation. Seriously. Awesome. Any man who makes me pasta from scratch gets big ticks in my book.
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| Ian hard at work |
So all this homemade, real food has got this mama thinking - what's so special about homemade? I mean, its trendy (think recycling, upcycling, repurposing etc...) and all that, but that's never been something to drive this mama.
What is it that's driving me and us on this homemade journey?
Firstly its all about connectedness and being more down to earth. My post-natal depression came as a surprise, but looking back I can see the lesson in the challenge - I've been too far from the ground for too long. I've been unanchored and floating. I thought that was the freedom I wanted (and perhaps for a while it was). From trying to be too much to trying to be like others to trying to do everything, I was exhausted even before we brought Rosie into the world. Handmaking things for us brings me closer to who I am and what I have right now.
Homemade is also about valuing the traditions of old, about connecting (again) with our family's past - Nan and Mum both knit, sew and fix cloth. They cook from scratch. They grow fruit and veggies. Pa, who is no longer with us in person, was the first one to be in the garden, growing and sowing, weeding and feeding. This is our heritage and its one that I want to carry on for myself and our little family.
Homemade is also about valuing our individuality. With homemade food, clothes, toys etc... we move away from consumerism, mass marketing and the treadmill urging us to have the same as everyone else. We are all individuals and our homemade approach helps to value and develop our uniqueness.
Focussing on a handmade home also brings balance to this world of technological wizardry and ever-increasing computing speed. Yes, this mama has an iphone, an ipad and blog that she loves, but she doesn't like the feeling of trying to keep up with something new everyday (every hour?). That speed leaves me feeling even more unanchored and increases my anxiety. Our girls deserve a chance to choose what works for them too. In our house we remain relatively unplugged from this world. Making things by hand, knowing where they came from and how they were put together balances the great unknowns of our technology and the system we live in.
This is why I value homemade for our little family of four learners. Most of the time though I don't think about these reasons. I just know that it feels good. That I feel calm and in control when I use my hands as much as my head to make something for us.
Wishing you, dear readers, a lovely, lovely day.
Friday, July 12, 2013
How does your garden grow?
Our Winter gardening continues with the planting of new asparagus crowns and two new rhubarb crowns. Also in are a lemonade tree, an Emperor mandarine and we've transplanted some strawberry plants to create a larger area of these lovely delicacies. We are of the firm opinion that you can never have too many strawberries! So these newbies were planted with love and are settling into their beds for the rest of the Winter, ready to wake up and grow once Spring arrives.
Rosie and I made a study of our edible plants and created together some plant markers for the garden. I loved nurturing Rosie's creativity in this way.
I'm also seeing a wonderful love of animals growing within our girls. They are really becoming more friendly and more comfortable with them as each day passes and its a joy for me to see this development of their identities.
This week's harvest includes lemons, oranges, parsley and red hot pokers (see photo) - a wonderful way to warm a Winter garden.
And for me? Well, a new pair of gumboots (yes they actually fit my long feet) are just the thing I needed for getting in with the chickens, digging in new plants and walking around in the wet grass. Now for some more gardening tomorrow before lots of rain arrives. Wish me luck...
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| Bethany watering our newly transplanted strawberry plants |
Rosie and I made a study of our edible plants and created together some plant markers for the garden. I loved nurturing Rosie's creativity in this way.
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| Rosie is drawing her pictures of edible plants for the plant markers we put in the garden |
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| The delightful camomile marker |
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| Rosie in the winter garden |
I'm also seeing a wonderful love of animals growing within our girls. They are really becoming more friendly and more comfortable with them as each day passes and its a joy for me to see this development of their identities.
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| The beautiful Miss Bethany with snowy the guinea pig |
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| Rosie and Poppy, our least adventurous chicken, share a cuddle |
This week's harvest includes lemons, oranges, parsley and red hot pokers (see photo) - a wonderful way to warm a Winter garden.
And for me? Well, a new pair of gumboots (yes they actually fit my long feet) are just the thing I needed for getting in with the chickens, digging in new plants and walking around in the wet grass. Now for some more gardening tomorrow before lots of rain arrives. Wish me luck...
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| My lovely new gumboots for working in the garden |
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| Our Red Hot Pokers (Kniphofia) create a lovely, warm boundary to our garden |
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| Lemons growing well in the front garden |
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