beauty that moves

for the kids, from emily

 

Last evening, after a game or two of marbles,  when a certain young one should have been getting ready for bed... we were instead watching and being totally entertained by a few science experiments that she just had to do right now... then we had the idea to capture a couple on video so we could look back on them. We also thought maybe your kids would get a kick out of them.

 

 

This sort of learning has me thinking about when we were homeschooling, as well as the upcoming summer, when there will be plenty of extra moments in the day for unlimited discovery. And that got me thinking about Eren's Summer Unschool project that is open to anyone who would like to join... it promises to be such and interesting and inspiring online community of sharing this summer! Have you signed up yet? ;) Read her overview and explanation of the project here. So much to look forward to!

 

 

So now, Emily and I bring to you (and your kiddos) a couple of quick videos of the science variety. She had a moment of great hesitation about using the plastic bag, but in the end we were okay (but not thrilled) with the sacrifice. Enjoy the clips... (Ever since you tube went to wide screen, which I love, videos have been transferring kind of funky. Hope it works for you)

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope your week is rolling along nicely!

from the garden

This morning I gathered the first bouquet of the season from our garden. The salvia is always the first to flower, and it looks like the sage and chive blossoms will be next. Soon there will be feverfew, cornflower, bee balm, lavender, phlox and so much more. Our perennial garden is six years old this summer and all grown up. I have a feeling it plans to show off a bit. Things are looking pretty beautiful and bountiful out there...

I like to fill out and extend our little bouquets with lots of fresh herbs. Today was lemon balm and peppermint, so fragrant. All was tucked inside a sweet little vase Emily gave to me on Mother's Day. The whole thing just makes me smile.

Sunday is such a good day.

accepting all sprouting advice

We starting sprouting last week and I have a few newbie questions. Please feel free to fire away and share your wisdom in the comments!

First, I think I used too many beans. The directions said to use 1/2 cup for this jar but it just seems like too much. Shouldn't they be in more of a single layer? All of those tender green shoots on the top are lost to the bottom beans.

Also, it's been one week and they should (and seem to) be done. But where do I go from here? The sprouts don't really seem to be separated from the beans, do I do that by hand, trim them?

These are such basic questions, but it's all new to me. Any brilliant sprouting websites I should know about? Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

Here's a couple of things to check out over the weekend:

Carrie sent me an email with a link to this article which brings up good information for those who had questions on my baked tofu post. And then I noticed the site the article was from, and couldn't believe I didn't know of it! It's a wonderful (and funny!) site from the author of my current favorite cookbook. Make sure to check out their little cooking videos!

And finally, this movie is coming out in a few weeks. I hope many people across the country get to see it. Trailer is narrated by the unmistakable voice of Michael Pollan.

Okay, now please load me up with sprouty information (or just say hello!) and you all have yourselves a wonderful weekend. ;)

one for me, several for you

For the most part I keep a healthy perspective when it comes to thrifting. I'm not really a collector of anything, I don't have shelves of bric-a-brac that need to be dusted weekly. I'm happy to discover and rescue beautiful pieces that represent a snapshot in history, clean them up a bit, and send them off for a new life. I do set up my own home with mostly thrifted and second hand items... I just don't hang on to more than I can use. But lately I've developed an unusual attachment to things. I find certain things hanging around with me for a while before I can list them... if I ever list them.

Like this candy tin. It's beautiful (and turquoise!) and I just want to look at it for a really long time. I guess there isn't anything wrong with that, I just have a little fear of becoming one of those people who can't move through their house because of the mountains of beautiful and special and too important to get rid of things! (Though it would make for some comical blog photography.) I feel confident however, that my minimalist family would intervene should that start happening. ;)

So here are some lovelies that I am ready and able to part with. This afternoon they will be listed in the shop!

 

 

 

Maybe you'll stop back later to take a closer look... have a great day!

she's developing quite an eye

Every Sunday morning our family heads out thrifting. We all sort of have our own agenda - usually Adam is on the search for tools, fly rods, books... Emily will be searching for the right pair of dress-up shoes, books, or, um, swords.

I have my own list of course (which is waaaaay longer than theirs). At the top of mine is turquoise, yellow and red pyrex/fire king, scored this weekend! Also I'm looking for flat lidded glass storage dishes to store leftovers and such in the refrigerator. Refrigerator dishes are quite collectable and popular these days (I think we are all trying to rid every bit of plastic from our kitchens) so they are hard to come buy. I found two last year, they are this style which I think is the very best and cutest of them all. Anyway, we were walking along and Emily asked me to take a look at what she had found. Just like any good thrifter, she was looking down and found the good stuff... "Mom, what do you think of these?"

What do I think? I think I've got myself a new assistant! These are technically considered covered casserole dishes and not true refrigerator dishes. But their flat lids (meaning they are stack-able) make them work for me. When I asked how much they were the guy responded, "two bucks for all of them." It was so hard to contain my excitement!

So after all this time of carefully training my cohorts to look down, under the tables, deep in the boxes... it is a pleasure to see this important life skill developing so nicely. ;)