Lil and I grew as unschoolers this winter and spring. We released ourselves from many routines and activities to allow more time for self-motivated studies. Along the way, we discovered unexpected benefits and challenges to homeschooling. Even without the structure, Lil continues to develop skills. Following in the format I developed for the Fall...
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Choosing delicious seasonal fruits and vegetables from farmers’ markets and CSAs is an investment of time and money, a commitment that keeps dollars in the local economy, supports sustainable agriculture, and helps people have a healthy diet. There is much to learn about what’s available when and who to buy it from. I recently...
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Remember this incident? The one where Alex effectively shot himself in the leg with shrapnel from an axe? It healed in place as the orthopedic doctor suggested, but only for nine months. In February, Alex’s thigh started hurting again. The pain was bearable for a few weeks but the inflamed feeling grew, especially when...
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1. concord grapes 2. red currants 3. peach 4. montmorency cherries 5. strawberries 6. raspberries 7. blueberries I took pictures of fruit babies last year. The comparison is interesting both because the fruits are three weeks ahead of where they were in 2011 and my photography skills have improved dramatically. Watching my fruit babies...
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It’s rhubarb season in central Ohio! I like rhubarb in jam, strawberry rhubarb pie, and my grandmother’s rhubarb crunch. But my favorite way to enjoy this slightly sweet, floral, first “fruit” of spring is in a vodka infusion. You might think I’m a lush but hear me out. Rhubarb is tongue-searingly sour and requires...
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At last week’s backyard chicken basics class, I admitted that our coop is a jumble of reclaimed parts and pieces, including two wooden boxes ‘saved’ from alley trash. Lil contributed a little whimsy with some Angry Birds pig faces painted on old rubber stepping stones. Our coop will not win any design awards but...
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Earth Day is every day around here. We reuse, recycle, and repurpose. We grow our own, capture rain water, dry laundry on the line, and more. No matter where you are on your earth-friendly journey, here are some ideas for marking Earth Day this weekend. 1) City Folk’s Farm Shop Grand Opening – Shop...
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They say moving is one of the most stressful life events along with death, divorce, and illness. Most of the family is holding up well but the old hound dog Devie is a mess. Alex insists that I tell you I am the second in line for ‘most stressed’. First we took away her...
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…eatin’ beans and makin’ love as long as we are able.” – Carolina Chocolate Drops, video below. The above tune is a catchy one. On autoplay in my mom’s head last week, she wanted to build a meal around it. Is it obvious now where I get my propensity to create odd theme dinners?...
Read more →I often forget about Inniswood Metro Gardens in Westerville, Ohio. The park is a little out of the way and the highly stylized gardens are more formal than I prefer. So when a friend and I took seven kids to Innis last week, I was pleasantly surprised to explore the relatively new – and...
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