Friday, September 6, 2013

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by Amanda, aka Soule Mama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
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In gratitude this week for
Laughter during our school days
Cool night and warm days
Daily walks 
Planning and Curriculum Support from two wonderful sources

Wishing you a truly blessed weekend!


Tuesday, September 3, 2013

First Grade!


Wow!  I can't believe the first week of first grade is behind us!  What an exciting week it was!  Full of lots of new discoveries.  Rebekah and I started each day with a nature walk around the neighborhood.  Some days it was just the two of us, sometimes a sister or two would joins us or a few of the little boys I watch.  We had a great time collecting items for the nature table.  Some of this weeks find were a cool puzzle rock, pine cones, wildflowers and a black feather.


Form drawing is a Waldorf thing.  I don't know of it's use in any other educational model.  Rebekah loves it.  She was introduced to the straight line and curve.  We found them all around the room, out in nature, walked them (here on the jump rope) drew them on each others back and modeled them out of bees wax and yarn before drawing them in the main lesson book.


The first of many black board drawing to guide us through the year.  In the morning it was covered by a beautiful blue silk.  Rebekah couldn't wait to see what was underneath.  Twice a week there will be a new picture with a secret message hidden in it.  This is how the letters will be introduced along with a story.  Such fun!


More form drawing - this time making the forms with bulky yarn!


Rebekah made her jump rope at the farmers market a few weeks ago.  It was a both set up by our local Waldorf School!  She loves it and is getting really good!  During circle time she jumps her little heart out.  I just love her smile!  First grade is definitely agreeing with her.


Painting and exploring with colors!  Such fun!  We both painted yellow next to blue and then yellow next to green.  This exercise comes directly from Steiner himself.  It was interesting to see how each of responded differently to the contrast between the two.  Painting is part of a weekly rhythm.  We will paint every Tuesday!  It is a day everyone looks forward to.

What a fabulous first week!  We did so much more than this, but I just couldn't leave the fun to snap pictures!

Friday, October 5, 2012

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by Amanda, aka Soule Mama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
~~~~~


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In gratitude this week for:
  • The magic of Waldorf education
  • A pantry stock with the goodness of a summer garden
  • Soup and Bread suppers
  • Three of the most awesome daughters anyone could ask for
Wishing you a blessed weekend!

Monday, June 25, 2012

Weekly Menu ~ June 25th



Monday
Breakfast:  Bagels with Fresh Fruit
Lunch:  Garden Salads
Dinner:  BLT with Pasta Salad (recipe coming this week)

Tuesday
Breakfast:  Cinnamon Struessel Muffins (Gluten Free)
Lunch:  Hummus with Veggie Sticks
Dinner:  Community Dinner at Church

Wednesday
Breakfast:  Yogurt and Fruit
Lunch:  Cream Mac & Cheese
Dinner:  Hot Dogs with Baked Beans

Thursday
Breakfast:  Poached Eggs on Toast
Lunch:  Quinoa with Sauteed Veggies
Dinner:  Chicken Enchiladas with Salad

Friday
Breakfast:  French Toast
Lunch:  Tuna Wraps with Apples
Dinner:  Homemade Pizza on Sourdough Crust

Saturday
Breakfast:  Yogurt with Granola
Lunch:  Egg Salad Sandwiches with Grapes
Dinner:  BBQ Pulled Pork, Corn On the Cob, Ranch Seasoned Oven Fries

Sunday
Breakfast:  Green Smoothies
Lunch:  Leftovers
Dinner:  Pot Luck Birthday Party

Linking up over at I'm an Organizing Junkies Menu Plan Monday.

Friday, June 22, 2012

{this moment}


{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by Amanda, aka Soule Mama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
~~~~~


~~~~

In gratitude this week for:
  • A fantastic Summer Solstice celebration
  • A garden that continues to grow and neighbors that keep dropping off their extra seedlings
  • Ice Cream for supper
  • Three of the most awesome daughters anyone could ask for
Wishing you a blessed weekend!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Banana Maple Walnut Ice Cream

Summer sure arrived with a bang this year.  Over night the temperatures when from the 70's to the high 90's!  So it was time to find some cool treats and fast.  Now my family loves treats!  I'm mean who's doesn't.  But this mama isn't always thrilled with all the stuff in commercial treats!  So I really shy away from store pop-cycles and such.  So what's a mama to do?  Whip up some Banana Maple Walnut ice cream of course.  This treat is so quick and easy and healthy too.  You could even serve it for breakfast.  Heck, I had it for dinner tonight while the rest of the family was gone.

Banana Maple Walnut Ice Cream

3 frozen bananas
1/4 cup walnut pieces
maple syrup to taste, about 1-3 tsp depending on how sweet you like it



Put the banana into the bowl of your food processor.  Being to pulse at 5-10 second intervals.  You don't want to let the food processor run continuously as the heat with melt the bananas.  When the banana is about half smooth mush and half chunks throw in half the nuts.  Process in pulses again.  Next drizzle in the maple syrup.  All let's left to do is fold in the rest of the nuts.  If you don't like large chunks of nut you can put them all in earlier.



Scoop and serve!  That's it!  And it it hadn't been 93 degrees in my kitchen, it wouldn't look like such a melted mess.  But do looks really matter when something is this good?  I think not!  This made on BIG serving, two normal servings or three kid size servings.  Adjust the amount of ingredients to your needs.



Of course the options are endless.  You can do peanut butter and banana, chocolate banana, coconut banana.  Really let your imagination and taste-buds run wild.  I'd love to hear what combinations you come up with.

Linking up at Country Mama Cooks, Make Your Own MondayHomestead Barn Hop, and Scratch Cooking Tuesday.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Summer Solstice

Wishing all of you a joyous first day of summer!  We love celebrating the Summer Solstice.  Rebekah has been counting the days down for over a week now.  Preparations are being made for our dinner of hot dogs, potato packets and grilled corn over the camp fire out back.  And of course there will be s'mores as well.



Here is a lovely little story that Rebekah and I read this morning.  I thought some of you might like to share it with your little ones.  The Return of the Sun King by Christine Natale.