Unschooling our lives

We have recently embarked on a new journey as a family. Well, truthfully this journey has been underway for some time now, but has been picking up speed lately and seems to have a known course. I am talking about unschooling. Over the years we have gone from planning to send our kids to public schools to realizing that homeschooling was much more a part of who we are. Now we are feeling like life brings us enough learning opportunities that forced school is not for us. Over the many conversations with other homeschooling Moms, countless books and web articles read, and seeing the benefits first hand of letting kids be free to learn in their own way and time, we have decided that unschooling seems to be a good fit for us.

So what is unschooling? Well, I think that there are so many answers to that question. This is a good website to help understand it a bit more: Unschooling.com But for me, it means that I practice seeing life as a constant learning experience letting go of the idea that my kids need me to teach them. They may want me to teach them some things sometimes, but mostly they are content just doing it in their own way. I want to let my kids enjoy life as it unfolds and I see how much they thrive when they are given that freedom.   Childhood is not a rehearsal for adulthood.

 I plan to share some of our experiences in this new found way of living with you. With 3 children running around, 2 babies in arms, and so much life to experience, I will do my best to share when I can. We are excited and feeling a sigh of relief looking forward to each day.

Planning Planning Planning!

With the garden off and growing on it's own (thanks to all the rain), I am off to planning the rest of my summer. This weekend we have some fun planned for father's day and next week I am taking my 2 oldest kids to NYC to see "Matilda". It will be a fun filled, gluten-free, 2 days. I even found a new Paleo restaurant, Hu Kitchen, that I am really excited about. And I am looking forward to taking the kids to my favorite GF pizza/risotto place, Risotteria, that I haven't been to in years. I think we are going to eat our way through the city for sure. This is the first time I will be away from my toddler, so that should be interesting. Must remember to bring my breast pump.
And while we are planning all this fun, I am also in the middle for planning our annual musical theater summer camp coming up at the end of next month. Actually the first day of camp is my daughters 9th birthday. Wow, must think about that too. :) Well, summer is my favorite time of year and as much planning as I am doing, I am also spending lots of time just relaxing and putting my feet in the sand and not forgetting to enjoy all the moments that I am planning for.

Spring has sprung! - Garden update

 So, as you can see, Spring has Sprung here in our garden. As usual, we are busy working and making changes and enjoying our time on this little piece of earth. John built us a new deck in the garden so we can enjoy all the life that is growing around us. And he built this cute little bridge to take us of the gully to our chickens and berry gardens. It makes me so happy every time I walk across it. Thanks honey!

 :: I let my back choi flower for the bees to enjoy

 :: tiring to help these peas climb

 ::Sunflowers!

 ::squash......I hope the squash bugs doing get them this year.

 :: Lots of lettuce

 :: I planted blueberries all over the garden and they are thriving!

 :: Chard and some kind of lettuce.

 :: Just waiting for the cucumbers to climb their way up.

 :: New Entrance......pretty fancy! Got it 70% off at a garden store last week.

 :: My friend gave this too me last year. So pretty! (what is it called?)

 :: Apples popping on "Apple" the apple tree. (how many times can I say apple in one sentence.?

 :: Lemon balm patch.....makes the best "happy tea"

 ::Sage in bloom!

 :: Our Hugel is doing well

 :: View of new deck....now for a bar-b-q

 ::The chickens are so fabulous and easy pets to have

 :: Garden I made right on top of my compost. Easy!

 :: Another little area to play in near the chickens.

 :: Spring Onions in front yard

You know,  I would not call myself a gardener, although I love to garden. I am not an expert and that doesn't stop me. What I love about it is that you can try anything and make lots of mistakes and still have fun. Both my successes and failures are equally as enjoyable and I am always learning and in a state of amazement at the miracles in nature. Most of the time I forget what I even plant. I just love throwing some seed in the ground and hoping for the best. That way is it all the more exciting to see it come up and then eventually land on your plate, even if I am not always sure about what it is exactly. Best of all, gardening is my chance to get my hands dirty and forget about being perfect or doing things right. It is all about just being there and doing it.

Hope you had a wonderful May Day.

I am blessed with a beautiful community. Thank you.

Happy May Day

Today I feel gratitude for all that is. I woke up this morning with tears in my eyes remembering those that I will never hug again, but today I must look ahead. It is May Day. Spring is hear and new life is growing. Buds, sprigs, babies of all kinds are growing strong and vibrant as they should be. Although their strength is interdependent on the life that came before them, it is their turn to bask in the sun. And it is my turn to hold my loved ones close and feel the warmth on my back letting me know I am here and I am safe . It seems unfair to me that there must be death for new life. But It is that process of letting go and yet holding on at the same time to that spark. that love, that strength.....  that the torch of life is passed on and never dies. 

Happy May Day!

Wild Violet Pops! Fun with Wild Eddibles

These pops are not only beautiful, delicious and fun to make, but they are supper nutritious. Spring time is the perfect time of year to get outside and put those weeds to good use. Violets are full of vitamins and have so many health benefits. My kids love collecting the violets, making these pops and we all love eating them. What a treat!

Wild Violet Pops

What you will need:

• 2 1/2 cup freshly picked violets without stems (separated)
• 5 cups boiling water
• Juice from 1 lemon
• 10 - 20 drops stevia or honey to taste
• 1 t vanilla
• ZOKU Quick Pop Mold

Directions:

Pour boiling water over 2 cups of violets in a glass bowl. Let sit covered for 6 - 8 hours to create an infusion. Stain the flowers out of the water. The water should be a pretty blue color now. Add the lemon and watch the magic happen. Then add your vanilla and sweetener to taste. Place the other 1/2 cup of violets in a glass of water. Using tweezers, take the wet violets out of the glass and place them on the insides of your ZOKU pop mold. They should stick to the side. Then place your stick in mold and you are ready to pour in your liquid. Watch it freeze in about 7 minutes and then enjoy this spring time treat. 

                                 

        

Best Banana Nut Pancakes (Gluten Free, Grain Free, GAPS, Paleo)

Here are some yummy pancakes that we have been loving lately. Hope you try them!

Best Banana Nut Pancakes (Gluten Free, Grain Free, GAPS, Paleo)

6 T Coconut flour

6 Eggs

3/4 C Milk (you can use coconut milk)

A Couple Pinches Baking Soda

1 Banana, chopped

1/2 C Finely Chopped Crispy Almonds

1 t GF Vanilla

Use butter, coconut oil or lard to fry them up in a pan. Make them small as they will be easier to flip. 

Enjoy!