Author Archives: Wonder in the Woods
Roses, Books & Things
Every Tuesday this month, a lovely group of ladies are coming to our house to watch and discuss the Books and Things DVD. I’m surprised by how much I need … Continue reading
Handicrafts 2013-2014
Ideas for Charlottte Mason School Co-op: Rag Rugs — plastic bags, sheets, T-shirts or fabric scraps — crochet or braided/hand-stitched Paracord Rope Clip or Friendship Bracelets — carribeener, paracord, knots, … Continue reading
Falling Down
Our house is 113 years old. I don’t know the age of the fences and outbuildings. They are falling down now. We have a lot of work to do this … Continue reading
Charlotte Mason Seminar
On Saturday we enjoyed nearly a full day of a Charlotte Mason seminar and a tea party. The weather was beautiful! The conversation was great. Everyone shared with each other … Continue reading
Summer Term 2013
Planning four terms for the 2013-2014 school year — Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. Each term is 5 weeks with 3 field trips, for a total of 8 weeks. This is … Continue reading
Tea Party
I’m hosting a tea party this month for my Charlotte Mason friends. It is an all day affair and we will also watch the All Day Seminar from Simply Charlotte … Continue reading
Reading A-Z
How about some homeschooling posts? ha! This year we discovered Reading A-Z books. I bought the one year subscription so we can download or print as many books as we … Continue reading
Hobbit Sweater
You’d think by now that I would be done with this sweater, but alas! I am not. I’m knitting the first arm. The days are getting too warm to knit … Continue reading
Losing and Gaining
I feel so much better — like a new person! My blood pressure is normal (for me) again– 130 something over the 70s or 80s. The boys and I check … Continue reading
Yarn Along
I am knitting these Tree of Life Wristlets. I’m using The Fibre Company “Road to China” 65% Baby Alpaca, 10% Cashmere and 10% Silk. The pattern came free with the … Continue reading
Grama’s Garden
It’s the time of year when I think about planting and gardening and this year I’m doing it! I’m wishing for winter to be over and for everything to bloom … Continue reading
Spring Planting
This is our first year to have an early spring garden. The raised bed Square Foot Garden worked so well last year and was easy to prepare again this year. … Continue reading
Core Knowledge
I had a lovely email chat with an old blogging friend who lives all the way in Pennsylvania. She mentioned Core Knowledge and I had to ask since I’m hearing … Continue reading
Breakfast Cereals
I read this article today and followed the link to the Environmental Working Group’s Report. Chandler loves cereal and helps himself to it throughout the day. I try to buy … Continue reading
GF Pancake & Baking Mix
We found a real winner for making gluten-free pancakes! I can’t wait to try the other recipes. I made these Pamela’s pancakes tonight and the boys gobbled them up and … Continue reading
Daffodil Spring
Every year I am happy to see the daffodils bloom. This means spring in the Willamette Valley. We got a load of bark mulch today and started with the flower … Continue reading
A New Leaf
I’m turning over a new leaf. I’ve lost 22 pounds. I feel great! I have more physical energy, but making time for everything is wearing on me emotionally. In February, … Continue reading
Too Soon To Know
I don’t know what I would do without dear friends who actually listen to my concerns and offer feedback. Parenting and homeschooling is humbling at best and frustrating at worst. … Continue reading
Ohhhh-klahoma
Last week I went to Oklahoma. I sure enjoyed seeing my sweet nephews and missed my boys!
A Marathon Not A Race
It is clear that we have more work to do. When I look at the progress and the willingness, I want to continue homeschooling. Understanding is so much more important … Continue reading
Couch to 5K!
I’m eating too many muffin mugs lately. Tell me to stop it. I’m up 3 pounds from last week. This is a total weight loss of 15 pounds in 5 … Continue reading
Breakfast Bars
I used this recipe from The Whole Kitchen and made Bananas Foster to bring out the sweetness of the bananas. I also sautéed the sliced apples in the banana pan … Continue reading
The Littlest Guy
I don’t talk as much about Chandler’s education on this blog, not like I do with Hunter. First of all, Chandler is only six. He hasn’t really begun school in … Continue reading
School Goes On
My focus has shifted to food instead of *what* the boys are learning. They are still doing their school work and Hunter will take the standardized OAKS test in a … Continue reading
Whole-y Moly
Enjoying fresh, whole foods and trying new recipes. These are the ones I don’t want to forget. Aidells Chicken and Apple Sausage with avocado and blueberries. I’m finding a variety … Continue reading
Chocolate Pudding Cake Mug
I modified this recipe to make a Chocolate Pudding Cake Mug for Hunter. He’s having it for breakfast. I didn’t tell him it is healthy and gluten-free, so he gobbled … Continue reading
Blueberry Muffin Mug
I used to go to Starbucks every morning for a grande chai tea latte and a blueberry muffin. I worked nearby and enjoyed walking over every morning. I drank chai … Continue reading
Whole 30 Challenge
During the month of January, I did the Whole30 Challenge with a Primal Blueprint twist. I discovered that I can live without grains. Sweets are harder to live without but … Continue reading
New Blog Theme
Grab a cup o’ something yummy and check out the new blog theme. I like to change things up. This way my recipe posts will be easier for me to … Continue reading
Grain-free Pancakes
I had just about given up on finding a good grain-free paleo-ish pancake recipe. I’m so glad I tried this one. SO delicious! This one doesn’t taste egg-y either and … Continue reading
Primal Essentials
I am definitely doing something more like the Primal Blueprint and not pure Paleo or Whole 30. Is life worth living without butter and cream? I don’t think so. I’m … Continue reading
Salsa Chicken
Yesterday, I said to a friend that I know this diet is weird and I don’t expect anyone else to eat this way, so I can just say “no thank … Continue reading
Simplify
My goal this year is to simplify everything and this includes letting go of, or limiting inefficient websites. Facebook is inefficient. You get the cute posts, but don’t get the … Continue reading
Not Pizza Skillet
The words quoted below had a profound affect on me when I read them. I’ve since discovered that I do have willpower. I passed on take-out Chinese and I passed … Continue reading
Paleo Cookies Oh Yeah
I have a cold. You know the old adage, “feed a cold, stave a fever.” I don’t know why my way of feeding a cold is with junky, comfort foods. … Continue reading
Pumpkin Mug Oh Yeah
Pumpkin Mug 3 tbs of almond meal (for kids I used 2 tbs of smoother almond flour) 2 tbs of coconut oil, melted 1 egg, scrambled (used half an … Continue reading
Paleo Diet
Changing the way I eat is something I’ve *needed* to do. I’ve been overweight for far too long. I lost weight after Chandler was born and got down to a … Continue reading
Strawberry Ginger Dressing for Spinach Salad
In order to eat Paleo greens, I need a good salad dressing that tastes kinda sweet and is not loaded with junk. I made this one tonight and it is … Continue reading
Apricot Basil Chicken
This is one of my favorite recipes for chicken. I am so glad it works with the Paleo diet — about 17 carbs per serving. Apricot Basil Chicken 1 cup … Continue reading
Frost
In January, we had a couple of days of beautiful frost. Here are several macro photos of the plants in our yard.
Yarn Along & Coast
We went to the coast on Sunday. Kelly went scuba diving, we explored the tide pools, the boys fished, and I did some knitting. This week I finished the waist … Continue reading
Covington Sweater
I am making good progress on the Covington Sweater for Kelly. This sweater is outerwear so it is a larger size. I am afraid it is too big, but Kelly … Continue reading
Learning Trades
Before our children were born, I read an article that said no one wants their children to be plumbers anymore. Parents want their children to go to college. I wonder … Continue reading
Project-Based Homeschooling
Kelly said to me, “How would you feel if someone required you to knit for so many minutes every day, or gave you a deadline to finish your project?” I … Continue reading
Our Christmas
Prayers refocused my energy and Christmas spirit. I got up early Christmas morning and enjoyed the quiet and the twinkling lights of the tree. Hunter came downstairs and made a … Continue reading
Christmas Burnout
This Christmas I am feeling a roller coaster of emotions: Joy and fun mixed with burnout and emotional lows. There are some family losses and national losses that weigh heavily … Continue reading
Artisan Cinnamon Caramel Rolls
It’s that time of year again. It’s time to make Artisan Bread and sticky pecan cinnamon rolls. YUM Now you know what we’ll be doing this week. Merry Christmas! The … Continue reading
Stopping by Woods
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village, though; He will not see me stopping here To … Continue reading
