Frontier Dreams: Winter to Spring

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Winter to Spring

popsicles (strawberries and coconut cream)

I adore this picture. K used makers to draw it for C to color. Her own coloring page.

just another homechooling day (k's test knit in progress)

K's main lesson book. Unfortunately our table does not really agree with block crayons. the texture comes through too much.

to get us through the winter/spring transition

Look what came this week! No, not the cat who always finds the most uncomfortable spot to sleep but K's fourth grade curriculum! I am really excited (and yet a bit intimidated) to plan for next year. Of course we have to get through this year first. Starting later in the year and taking too many breaks has taken it's toll on us. But hey, now we know what NOT to do this autumn, right?! I was originally planning on homeschooling year round but after reading some Donna Simmons articles and researching deeper into how Waldorf education works, I realized that was not the best idea for us. My children need that time off to let everything internalize and digest. With the way Waldorf works, they should just pick right back up when we come back to it all three months later. At least that's how it works in the Waldorf schools. I shall pray that I am doing okay enough that it works out that way for us, too.

I have been feeling a bit like a mad scientist in my kitchen lately. Our water kefir (AKA Beatrix) is really taking off and starting to grow. We now have two batches going at a time. I have also been working on some home remedies to get us through this winter to spring transition that has been weakening our immune systems - elderberry syrup from Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health and some homemade congestion rub (think Vick's vapor rub). Oh, not really related but that popsicle you see Little L eating in the first couple of pictures is strawberries and cream made from this recipe. It is by far the best cream popsicle I have had since I gave up dairy nearly 20 years ago (eek, I am getting old!).

Have any of you been hit with the spring cleaning bug? I haven't been able to find time to really start yet, much to my dismay, but I did at least reorganize the children's linen closet. That is bringing a smile to my face.

p.s. - What do you do when you miss your friends so much you can hardly stand the pain any longer?

Make sock dolls of them, of course! The girls proudly showed me these dolls they secretly made at night (when they were supposedly sleeping *ahem*). They hope to share them with their friends soon. Very soon, indeed!

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heathermama · 522 weeks ago

the elements book looks interesting, is it a science sort of book?
thanks for the link to the Popsicles. :)

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1 reply · active 522 weeks ago

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FrontierDreams 111p · 522 weeks ago

yes, of sorts. It's full of directions and ideas to get children (of all ages) to explore each element. I have only glanced through it so far. :)

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katy010305 45p · 522 weeks ago

It still feels like winter here...although today is suppose to hit the 60's at some point (yahoooo!). I was able to hang out my first load of laundry yesterday though (since the fall) and it was glorious! The sun helped us get to a temp in the 50's...not quite warm enough to open the windows and doors though to let the house air out. Once I can open up and air the house, I will be more fervent in my spring cleaning! :)

Love the sock dolls! Super cute!!! :)

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Taryn@WoolyMossRoots · 522 weeks ago

I love that book by Rosemary Gladstar! We were given some early Christopherus curriculum and I really liked what I read.

Those socks dolls.... so sweet!

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caffeinegirl 34p · 522 weeks ago

I have done a tad of spring cleaning, but not too much. Your house looks perfectly clean and organized; do you even need to do spring cleaning?

When I miss my friends, I call. When that's not a possibility, I plug myself into knitting and Netflix or a good book. I know the feeling. My best friend lives in California, 2,000 miles away from me!

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Stacey · 522 weeks ago

These photographs are so beautiful... what sweet ones with little L and the hedgehog and the flowers! Okay, I am officially in love with that candle holder. I can't bear it - where did you get it? : ) Thanks so much for mentioning the herbal book - I am really getting back into herbal preparations. And the popsicle recipe. I've found that we really only like to make the creamier popsicles. The rest are like licking flavored ice blocks. Which maybe some people like, but not us. It's so exciting when the new curriculum arrives, right? We've taken some crazy breaks this year, too, what with moving across the country in the middle of the school year, ahem. We do take a summer break, but then again, we don't. We don't just keep at the curriculum all summer. But we do things - I have found that I and the children don't do well without *something.* So we still read stories, do nature study, take field trips - it's kind of up to our whims in the summer. Those sock dolls are precious - I'll bet your friends will love them. : ) My little imps won't go right to sleep lately - but they aren't making dolls; they just tell each other stories and sing songs and giggle. A lot. : )

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