Learning Everywhere

Being on "vacation" for us doesn't mean a "vacation" from learning. Learning is life! Whatever new place we visit gives us an opportunity to explore, to make connections, to discuss ideas, to discover God in a new and beautiful way. To marvel at the glory of Him as revealed in creation! To marvel at the ingenuity and minds of other men and women. Simply, to marvel!

We can model for our children a delight in discovery and a lifestyle of learning that isn't confined to a table at home or workbooks at school. We as mamas need to keep our own curiosity and sense of wonder ALIVE so that our children find joy and a sense of daily anticipation in seeing the Lord and His world in new ways!

While at the beach I spent time collecting many different kinds of shells. I was amazed at the variety and diversity...because at first glance, they all can look the same. I went to Lowell's Bookworm...a small Holden Beach used/new bookstore...and found the most perfect field guide to shells and coastal wildlife in the Carolinas. User-friendly, clear photographs, fascinating, and a wonderfully practical addition for our family's beach book collection. I was able to teach the children the names of the different shells and birds...who knew that the "jingle shells" that I have seen for years were called "mermaid's toenails" by sailors long ago?!


One morning I spread out lots of different kinds of shells in long white platters on the dining room table. We put together homemade shell field guides! As simple as a few pieces of blank paper placed in a cover of cardstock. Sam picked out a favorite shell, sketched it, labeled it, and wrote a few facts about the it on the back side of the paper. He learned the difference in bivalves, gastropods, and what the little animals feed on. Real life hands-on learning!


One evening I was standing out on the front porch overlooking the ocean and I kept noticing a flashing light out over the ocean. I realized that it was blinking in timed intervals and the aha! moment hit me...it was the Oak Island Lighthouse! Time for an impromptu field trip! So we decided to take a morning trip out there to see the lighthouse and learn more. On the day after that, Sam drew a wonderful sketch in his notebook of the lighthouse and we explored the Internet for more information on its structure, history, and even the amount of stairsteps (131!).


On another day I was fortunate enough to read this intriguing post on harvesting sea salt! So one morning my niece and I gathered stockpots of sea water...I filtered it through coffee filters and a flour sack towel and began the boiling. Now I didn't have the beautiful success that Laurel had...after five hours of boiling I had just about a tablespoon of salt and it wasn't pretty at all :) But I believe the value of the process is just as satisfying or even more so as the end product...we must savor and enjoy the learning journey not just the destination! It was a good reminder to me to not put undue focus on my children's (or my own!) educational outcomes, but set my sights on the character-building and learning processes that are developed as we are going.

So wherever we are and whoever we are with, let us be learners. Inquisitive. Question-askers. Answer-seekers. Curious ones. Awe-struck by the magnitude of the Lord and life and people and our planet. It's an exciting and humbling and worshipful way to live!

Beach Living

We just arrived home this afternoon from two weeks of blissful vacation in Holden Beach, North Carolina. We originally were just staying one week, but the beach bug always bites hard, and so we decided to stay another week. I feel rested and refreshed...all that fresh salty air, beach-combing, and hours watching my children romp in the surf.

Beach living is the perfect family vacation...simple, relaxing, beautiful.

I enjoyed getting myself into a simple routine as soon as we arrived. Many people view a vacation as "time off" from house-keeping or a schedule. For me, finding a simple rhythm even while on vacation brings me more rest...I like to keep my living atmosphere serene and uncluttered no matter where I am. My love for domesticity transcends to any living space that I am in... whether my own home or a rented one!

In the mornings I would pull up the lovely coastal cottage-y quilts on all of the beds and open the bedrooms' blinds. And then a quick check to make sure beach towels and swimsuits were ready for the day. A load of laundry would be started...and then a cup of hot coffee enjoyed out on the porch overlooking the ocean. We had nice breakfasts in the mornings...Mike would fix us our standard scrambled eggs and sausage or I would make some baked french toast or a sausage/egg/cheese casserole. I love a hearty breakfast especially when I know we will be spending most of our day outdoors.

The dishwasher would then be unloaded and re-loaded...and fresh kitchen towels and dishcloths would be set out. Everything in the "common living areas" put away nice and neat before the morning ritual of sunscreen application and the gathering together of beach gear (a good book, water bottles, and snacks...and boogie boards and buckets for the kids). And then off to the beach for 3 hours until lunch time! The children played in the waves or took walks or had imaginative sand play. I spent my time shell-seeking and sitting in a beach chair either watching the surf and wildlife, thinking, reflecting or reading (or holding Will...the beach made him extra cuddly and wanting to hug constantly!)

An orderly and fresh beach home would welcome our sandy, hungry bodies. It was so nice to have taken the time (which really wasn't much) to keep the basics running smoothly.

And after dinner at night, I had a small, steady routine. Turn down the children's beds, lay out their pj's for them, close their blinds, turn on bedside lamps, and place new reading material out. Make sure the kitchen is tidy...and all the day's laundry put away. Fluff the couch pillows. Sweep up sand. Turn on living room lamps and pick out the evening entertainment...a book? quilt for the baby? a game with family? a movie?

Finally it would be time for sweet sleep. I sought to keep my sleeping rhythm the same that I enjoy at home...lights out around 10:30 or so...with our bedroom window opened slightly so that the sound of the ocean would lull me to sleep. To keep the same sleep schedule helps the transition from home to vacation to home again feel so much better and I think our bodies and minds appreciate the continuity.

Living at the beach soothes and satisfies. The children play hard and well and long. The adults can actually sit and savor: life and nature and exercise and conversation and books and ideas and a true form of simple living. The daily rhythm lends itself to healing and rest and recovery.

I am now invigorated. I entered our home this afternoon with a clearer perspective and emotional energy. I enjoyed seeing all the growth that has happened while I have been gone with my herbs, my flowers, and my little garden. And then I spent an hour sprucing up my kitchen with some darling vintage finds from a few antique shops I enjoyed in Shallotte, NC. A fresh floral vintage tablecloth was laid across our table for dinner with the center decorated with fresh cuttings from our blooming gardenia bush (placed in five simple, clear, recycled jars!)...the smell is fabulously intoxicating!

And so my domesticity returns from the beach with me.

Just Livin'

I have been wanting to post, but Spring is just so full. It certainly is my most favorite time of the year. When I am not busy do-ing, I am very busy just be-ing.

We have planted herbs and flowers in pots and put some peppers, tomatoes, arugula, and herbs in our square foot garden.



We have celebrated Will's 3rd birthday!


My sister and I took Sam, Will, and her daughter Hannah up to Historic Brattonsville for their Homeschool History series...this day being "Summer is A' Comin'". We had a lot of fun leisurely strolling the grounds...Sam and Hannah planted lima beans, watched draft horses plow, and took a turn at churning butter.



Mike and I drove up to Charlotte for our annual "Prom" with good friends that now live in NC. We meet at a great restaurant every May to dress up, eat well, talk long, and laugh loud. We always happen to be at places where teenagers are celebrating their Prom night so we laughingly call it our "Prom" and our husbands come up with a theme each year based on a country song. So fun!!

the guy pretending to touch my tummy along with the girl at the right end
were total strangers who jumped in our photo!!! Hilarious!

We then celebrated my 36th birthday, our 12th anniversary, and Mother's Day all in one weekend! Shew! I had a wonderful maternity massage and a day alone...I enjoyed a few hours at Barnes and Noble, lunch outside at Tropical Smoothie, and an hour wandering around an antique mall. Mike grilled Mexican Steaks for dinner along with corn on the cob with Cilantro-Lime butter, and of course, key lime pie for dessert :) And now we are getting ready to head out for our family vacation at Holden Beach, NC. to rest, renew, and relax. My most favorite vacation in the world.

On the crafting front, I have enjoyed making a baby blanket for our little boy who is coming the end of July...flannel on one side and cute green bunny cotton on the other side with a touch of embroidery on it, of course :) I also sewed some personalized hankies for my mom and mother-in-law for Mother's Day. For the beach, I bought some Melissa and Doug Doodle Pads for $1 for each child and covered the fronts with colorful cardstock, a beach-y die-cut, and stenciled their name on it. And have also gathered together the materials needed to do some fun beach crafts with them next week in case of rainy afternoons.


Plus we have been wrapping up the end of our school year for each child (Sam and I are really enjoying doing an easy Beyond Five in a Row unit on The Boxcar Children). Field trips, parks, bike rides...anything to get outside in this glorious weather!


Hope you are enjoying your Spring and that it is a good-kind-of-full too :)

Simple Grilled Summer Suppers

We love to grill and do it often. It's so simple to throw some chicken or beef or pork into a delicious marinade in the morning...and then have my husband grill it that night. Add some easy side dishes like fruit or a salad along with rice or potatoes, and dinner is done.

Lately when I find boneless chicken breasts on sale for $1.99/lb., I purchase many packs, throw them in Ziplocs with a marinade when I get home, and pop them in the freezer. Then when I need some easy meals, I thaw a few packs of chicken and have Mike grill up to eight breasts at a time. That night we'll have a simple grilled chicken Caesar salad. Romaine lettuce, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and organic croutons along with some Newman's Own Caesar dressing.

The leftover chicken is saved for the following evening when we will make some tasty skillet lime chicken tacos. This recipe was given to me by an old college friend, and it's become a wonderfully quick and yummy meal.

1 1/2 lbs. cooked chicken (cubed)
1/8 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 lime, juiced
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 green onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp. oregano

Saute the chicken in a skillet to warm and then add all ingredients. Cover and simmer 10 minutes and serve in warm tortillas along with whatever toppings you love (lettuce, olives, monterey jack cheese, salsa, sour cream, avocados).

Simple and yummy summer meals. That's where it's at for me!

Deal of the Day

I decided to run by Food Lion to get a few groceries, and I found that they had a Burt's Bees display with all items on "close-out". That means everything was 50% off! So I stocked up on shampoos, lotions, hand soap, and lip balms. You may want to see if your local store is doing the same thing!

And now I am off to plant some potatoes in a garbage can....


image by Harriet Eaglestone