tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46724252964655803332024-02-20T20:01:23.640-08:00Journey Toward SimplicityOne family’s journey toward a more simple, frugal, natural and intentional life.jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.comBlogger257125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-39768597008511325102016-09-05T12:17:00.001-07:002020-10-27T07:58:11.557-07:00"So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Good Night..."I started this blog on July 5, 2012, as a way to chronicle my family's journey toward a simpler, more rewarding life. Over the last four+ years, I've shared recipes, crafts, home projects, ideas, thoughts, and so much more. I've written about the many changes our big, blended family has gone through... our joys, our sorrows and our struggles.<br />
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But now... this particular story of our family has come to an end, and thus, I feel like this blog must come to an end, as well. Last month, The Man of the House and I ended our relationship of over 7 years. It's really for the best, and, truth be told, it's something we probably should have done long ago. But the decision to break up a family is one that is not taken lightly, especially when there are kids involved.<br />
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At first, I was terrified of the idea of being single again at 45 years old... I'd hoped I'd find my Happily Ever After, but it turns out I picked the wrong person for that. And for years, I tried to either turn him into the right person, or to convince myself that he could be the right person, but of course neither of those things ever work. You can't make someone into something they're not. I'm also realizing that it's all really going to be OK. I have so much Good in my life... I have amazing kids, who keep me very busy, a nice, comfortable home in a nice community, some really supportive family, really great friends, a job I absolutely love, lots of hobbies... my life is full and rich and I am BLESSED beyond belief.<br />
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We are all working through these big changes in our own ways. Overall, I can honestly say that I am happier. I'm more relaxed, less stressed, and have taken this time to focus on pursuing some long-neglected interests, and to just taking care of myself and my kids . I do have a bit of "mom guilt" over the lack of stability in my children's lives, but they really do seem to be taking everything in stride, and I think having a happier Mom will definitely make for some happier kids in the long run.<br />
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So, I thank all of you who have followed our Journey here on this blog. It's been an adventure, for sure! And now... onward to NEW adventures... to the "life that is waiting for us... "</div>
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~Jenney </div>
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<br />jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-10014033610948096682016-07-12T07:01:00.000-07:002016-07-12T07:01:53.957-07:00First Honey Harvest!So the world has been going crazy lately, and I've started about 20 different blog posts the last 6 weeks, which I just haven't been able to find the words to finish. Rape culture, homophobia, mass shootings, racism, police brutality, murder of police officers... gah. Seriously, life is really hard for much of America right now, and like most people, I feel helpless and frightened, and I really don't know what to say. I'm trying, instead, to keep listening, to speak up when needed, and to try to keep my kids feeling safe and happy in an unsafe world. That's pretty much the best I can do at the moment.<br />
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So I'm not going to write about the troubles in the world. Instead, I'm going to focus on my own little cocoon, my wee little Suburban Farm, and I'm going to tell you all about getting our first Honey Harvest from our hive! Minding my bees has been a wonderful escape for me, and getting to harvest a whole mess of delicious, sticky-sweet honey has been such a treat.<br />
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I put the honey super on the end of May, and when I took a peek mid-June, I was impressed to see that they'd made amazing progress!<br />
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By the beginning of July, the whole super was filled with capped honey! I couldn't believe how quickly my ladies worked! And I couldn't believe that after a little over a year as a beekeeper (and after a <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2015_08_01_archive.html" target="_blank">few setbacks</a>!) I was finally getting to harvest my first batch of honey. </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuh6DpihZ1d7T-7pZQ67F3AqWpNAupysegV2ZVdYn_Qe5tLPmugsk50X_U5GNfnwxt2uCEhxZXOsDbCUtx3DPDOCINSJmIGaF9tsv3HO0IBpcfbauhqkjZ8gX9Yh5pZpjphMDXIGu6qA/s1600/20160630_170117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuh6DpihZ1d7T-7pZQ67F3AqWpNAupysegV2ZVdYn_Qe5tLPmugsk50X_U5GNfnwxt2uCEhxZXOsDbCUtx3DPDOCINSJmIGaF9tsv3HO0IBpcfbauhqkjZ8gX9Yh5pZpjphMDXIGu6qA/s400/20160630_170117.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Capped honey, ready to harvest!</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi850iDCVRhsU3Y9yOusUTWWQGrLyjlTZn6zL7ZibLNutCYPaOAlhc35wtn-VXNWe-yTjQD77ARrlNxOCI20WZQkUEionKrOVKQJrMGd3tYhccXa6M_fo0vm0iaP8K31oDhKvAPzAwKFek/s1600/20160630_170722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi850iDCVRhsU3Y9yOusUTWWQGrLyjlTZn6zL7ZibLNutCYPaOAlhc35wtn-VXNWe-yTjQD77ARrlNxOCI20WZQkUEionKrOVKQJrMGd3tYhccXa6M_fo0vm0iaP8K31oDhKvAPzAwKFek/s400/20160630_170722.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Scraping off the comb and honey<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmrYlRjqOXhTRNsprDBYGRh9enrpwtCZaP361eZWgIbbmsZzD8wrSlkuUKyQRQcj58LdOTweXryApmQpNWfU_7cCTystmUvJukysrDSA6FHHwC2drFLT3xawaJWhhrJuuLJqHReG5JJQ/s1600/20160701_085211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmrYlRjqOXhTRNsprDBYGRh9enrpwtCZaP361eZWgIbbmsZzD8wrSlkuUKyQRQcj58LdOTweXryApmQpNWfU_7cCTystmUvJukysrDSA6FHHwC2drFLT3xawaJWhhrJuuLJqHReG5JJQ/s400/20160701_085211.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hJR8Dh0tZfkIyBsupAZlF8aX6QAxBif1OP-mxa1mNKX1YGafaPqVsgd-J55SQsdafkw_WEoUN5Lwk2F9G4h-P-IMIHt6X9y-20YmY7IdogJ_Tlh9yn3jKrijkRRpD7Zw61OJzwLavgI/s1600/20160701_085935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hJR8Dh0tZfkIyBsupAZlF8aX6QAxBif1OP-mxa1mNKX1YGafaPqVsgd-J55SQsdafkw_WEoUN5Lwk2F9G4h-P-IMIHt6X9y-20YmY7IdogJ_Tlh9yn3jKrijkRRpD7Zw61OJzwLavgI/s400/20160701_085935.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We put all the comb and honey into a cheesecloth-lined colander<br />over a big pot. The honey drips down, and the wax stays behind. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAChS13BzCabVBGPLUtreibzNUNG-1A13KoNwmbV6a_ChQ-b6mhCNmw5gjZGbL695HKN2oGoKjbd5O2t9U_au2ixZ9LVaPYPuGQUgOX4ZYmgJA6d58uoxFdxaHxF47OeSd-r3NsqQBNZQ/s1600/20160702_112451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAChS13BzCabVBGPLUtreibzNUNG-1A13KoNwmbV6a_ChQ-b6mhCNmw5gjZGbL695HKN2oGoKjbd5O2t9U_au2ixZ9LVaPYPuGQUgOX4ZYmgJA6d58uoxFdxaHxF47OeSd-r3NsqQBNZQ/s400/20160702_112451.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladling the fresh, raw honey into jars</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJKvSFZ4uhr0-p1kwFqTnVbaYAXsi1PnUmGUL33lB80cAS4gkDm5Mt8XasZQBERUd2FjbQxK-_9nG2ZoL6jWkFwMfzivGg4xgN6ftPX9xpcXngnbmSB7rBLXOC-dF8ZiOUghBAz5uDzo/s1600/IMG_20160702_114309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJKvSFZ4uhr0-p1kwFqTnVbaYAXsi1PnUmGUL33lB80cAS4gkDm5Mt8XasZQBERUd2FjbQxK-_9nG2ZoL6jWkFwMfzivGg4xgN6ftPX9xpcXngnbmSB7rBLXOC-dF8ZiOUghBAz5uDzo/s400/IMG_20160702_114309.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honey!</td></tr>
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I'm so grateful for this little bit of joy and normalcy in my life... more grateful now than ever. I hope that you're also able to find a small amount of peace as we make our way in this crazy world.jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-48626908197830236222016-05-26T17:50:00.003-07:002016-05-26T17:50:57.265-07:00My New Favorite Lunch Recipe... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbKqhebzZJcglTu2sGEQWzFl8o3fZqp298u4c0ghy4P1t_hkj4bHe6qnbO58KpHvhDgI8x_YKCQlrMf0-m8OzfXXHho91DEqbYMIvxht32yjjegOQa0UNq61HgU6Ix9UFOx97lxzQPgY/s1600/20160524_080008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbKqhebzZJcglTu2sGEQWzFl8o3fZqp298u4c0ghy4P1t_hkj4bHe6qnbO58KpHvhDgI8x_YKCQlrMf0-m8OzfXXHho91DEqbYMIvxht32yjjegOQa0UNq61HgU6Ix9UFOx97lxzQPgY/s200/20160524_080008.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>
Most days, lunch for me is a big salad and/or some soup, or some leftovers from the previous night's dinner... but sometimes <span style="font-family: inherit;">I get a craving for a really good sandwich. Who doesn't, right? My typical sandwich choices are hummus or <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2014/01/cashew-cheese-love.html" target="_blank">cashew cheese</a>, piled with lettuce, tomato and other veggies on sprouted grain bread (or a wrap) </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But lately... I have a new Sandwich Love... it's called Chickpea-Avocado Salad and it's DELICIOUS. It's sort of similar to the non-vegan sandwich staples chicken salad or egg salad. But vegan, and amazing in every way. It not only tastes great, it's also super nutritious and really satisfying. It's the perfect sandwich for summer picnic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Chickpea-Avocado Salad Sandwich</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1.5 cups of cooked chickpeas, mashed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuY9iZgRdoA6shZWUgMh_2GyXQxEQeUjVdgsLbzT7VFAvB657H2btNty28Jta_veNep_siHFZBCjvNQYn7TE-dswUHcQsI8dJ4e7Yi_zr1pq_MpR0AtD32_XxEIgHqD0ZOjA7c9CiPzU/s1600/20160524_075515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuY9iZgRdoA6shZWUgMh_2GyXQxEQeUjVdgsLbzT7VFAvB657H2btNty28Jta_veNep_siHFZBCjvNQYn7TE-dswUHcQsI8dJ4e7Yi_zr1pq_MpR0AtD32_XxEIgHqD0ZOjA7c9CiPzU/s200/20160524_075515.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 large ripe avocado</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 med purple onion, finely chopped</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">splash of lemon juice</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Salt and pepper to taste</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Put everything in a bowl, and mash/stir until well blended. Serve on toasted bread with lettuce, tomato and any other veggies you like (sprouts work great!) Alternatively, you can serve it up in a wrap, in lettuce leaves, on crackers... etc. You can make this salad up ahead of time... it will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.</span></div>
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jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-53882937749626819412016-05-13T17:41:00.000-07:002016-05-13T17:41:08.855-07:00Routines! Part 2So, <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2016/05/routines-part-1.html" target="_blank">last post </a>I talked about how my daily routines help me keep up with my busy life. Today I'm going to talk about my <b>weekly</b> routines.<br />
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While my daily routines keep up with the basic daily needs of my home and family (basic tidying, daily meals, laundry, etc) my weekly routines take care of everything else I need to get done to keep my home running smoothly, such as paying bills, planning meals, errands, cleaning, etc.<br />
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In order to balance home needs with our very busy schedule of homeschooling stuff, activities and work obligations, I spread out household responsibilities throughout the week. That way, I only have a few things to do each day, so I can squeeze them in at the beginning and end of the day, or between our activities or obligations during the day.<br />
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<b>Monday:</b><br />
Quick <a href="http://www.flylady.net/d/br/2014/06/02/what-is-weekly-home-blessing-hour-9/" target="_blank">Home Blessing</a> (a throwback to when I used to follow <a href="http://flylady.net/" target="_blank">Flylady</a>, back in the day)<br />
Good bathroom cleaning<br />
15-20 minutes of detail cleaning in one room (wherever needs it)<br />
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<b>Tuesday:</b><br />
15-20 minutes of detail cleaning in one room<br />
Sort mail, tend to paperwork<br />
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<b>Wednesday:</b><br />
15-20 minutes of detail cleaning in one room<br />
Errands: Target and Trader Joes<br />
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<b>Thursday:</b><br />
Write up menus and shopping list for the week<br />
Whole Foods, any other necessary errands<br />
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<b>Friday:</b><br />
Clean out Fridge<br />
Big grocery shop for the week<br />
Sort mail, tend to paperwork, pay bills, etc<br />
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<b>Saturday and Sunday </b><br />
Food prep (to makes weekday meal prep a little easier!)<br />
Home and Garden Projects<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFco-hvMEJjBeIoOmi63p7WC1AQy1cuN3bzutBCo3DuR3onYD_esCq7T4u0BQGCvBpfDRs6DKic8n9s0PvuHdOclA7oAix7jYMAQMJfBnX2vbjf0v2XukzTI8xepxyDwZYo68Sw8yC-B8/s1600/20160504_073636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFco-hvMEJjBeIoOmi63p7WC1AQy1cuN3bzutBCo3DuR3onYD_esCq7T4u0BQGCvBpfDRs6DKic8n9s0PvuHdOclA7oAix7jYMAQMJfBnX2vbjf0v2XukzTI8xepxyDwZYo68Sw8yC-B8/s320/20160504_073636.jpg" width="259" /></a>I keep all of this together on printed "to do" lists for each day, which also include the regular classes <br />
and activities we have scheduled for that day. For one-time events, or something specific to a single day, I also have a post-it "to do" list attached to write those things down. I keep these lists on a clipboard on my desk, so I can refer to it as needed throughout the day. I also keep a journal near by, to jot down things such as recipe ideas, plans for special events like birthdays or holidays, notes about things to do with the kids, etc.<br />
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The transition back to work has been so much smoother than I thought it would be, largely due to these basic routines. As I increase my work hours in the coming months, I'm hoping these routines will continue to keep my home in shape and my family happy.<br />
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<br />jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-73344443328442850442016-05-04T04:46:00.000-07:002016-05-04T04:46:49.585-07:00Routines! Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a very busy couple of months around here, as I've been launching my new business, <a href="http://www.simplelifehomesolutions.com/" target="_blank">SimpleLife Home Solutions</a>, while still managing my home and family and homeschooling 4 kids! I'm trying really hard to keep the balance, and so far, so good! Being my own boss, I'm in charge of my own schedule, and can arrange my client appointments and office time around the kids schedules, so that is very helpful.<br />
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But the absolute most important thing I have, that makes it possible for me to juggle work, home and family, is that I have some really solid routines in place... things that I do each day that make my life run a little bit smoother. Over the years I've developed a variety of daily and weekly routines that help me keep up with everything I'm responsible for. The most important of these are my Morning, Afternoon and Evening Routines.<br />
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Getting my day off to a good start in the morning actually begins the night before, with my Evening Routine:<br />
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1. Pack The Man's lunch for tomorrow<br />
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2. Set up the coffee pot<br />
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3. Finish folding the day's laundry (see more about my <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2015/02/thoughts-on-laundry.html" target="_blank">laundry routines here</a>)<br />
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4. Do a quick 10 minute "tidy up" around the house (This one is super important. Doing a quick clean up each night means I start every morning with a tidy home! This makes a HUGE difference in my attitude in the morning!)<br />
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5. Check my calendar, and make sure we have everything we need for the next day's activities, classes, appointments, etc.<br />
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6. Make my "to do" list for tomorrow.<br />
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7. Lay out my clothes for tomorrow.<br />
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This routine usually only takes about 45 minutes or so. After I'm done, I end my day with a nice hot shower to wash away the stress of day, and I make it a priority to spend some time with The Man of the House (so important to a relationship to make sure to reconnect each evening, after a busy day apart)<br />
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After a good night's sleep (or as close to a good night's sleep as I get these days... ), I'm ready to tackle a new day with my Morning Routine:<br />
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1. Get myself up and ready. (Once upon a time, I'd make the bed, but now The Man does it, as he's the last one up!)<br />
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2. Wipe down the bathroom.<br />
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3. Put the teakettle on to boil.<br />
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4. Empty the dishwasher.<br />
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5. Fix breakfast, dole out vitamins, fill The Man's thermos for work.<br />
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6. Put in first load of laundry.<br />
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7. Cat boxes<br />
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8. Sit down with my coffee to check email, etc<br />
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9. Before we head out the door, I make sure the kitchen is tidied up, and switch the laundry.<br />
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Once these things are done, I can go about tackling whatever is on our agenda for the day. Our schedule varies greatly depending on the day of the week, but the middle of our day generally consists of various classes, chores, activities, appointments, schoolwork for the kids and work for me.<br />
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By around 4-4:30, I start my Afternoon Routine...<br />
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1. Keep the laundry going<br />
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2. Start dinner prep<br />
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3. Empty dishwasher, if needed (with a family of 6, our dishwasher usually gets run twice a day, after breakfast and lunch, and after dinner)<br />
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When these three basic routines get done, the most basic needs of my family are met: our home is fairly tidy, we're fed, and we have clean clothes. If all else falls apart in our day (which does sometimes happen!) at least we have that.<br />
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Next post, I'll be talking about weekly routines, and how those build on my daily routines to keep our lives running smoothly.<br />
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<br />jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-10939167514176545392016-04-27T17:30:00.001-07:002016-04-27T17:30:24.953-07:00Babies and Devices: Observations from the Grocery StoreThis may come across as a "back in MY day... " rant, and I hope it doesn't. But I can't help but write about something I've noticed going on around me in cafes, stores and markets lately. Nearly EVERY young child, with the exception of a very small handful, are sitting in shopping carts or at tables with a device in their hands, be it iPads, mom's phone, whatever. Almost every single one! What is up with that?! The other day I saw a little girl who looked to be barely a year old, playing with her mom's phone. I find this so, so disturbing.<br />
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I've written about my feelings on technology here in the past (<a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2014/03/technology-media-and-simplicity.html" target="_blank">see "Technology, Media and Simplicity</a>") but boy-oh-boy in the two years since I wrote that post, it seems to me that tech is now even more pervasive than ever, and that is NOT a good thing.<br />
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In addition to the damage being done to young brains from these devices (see <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mental-wealth/201402/gray-matters-too-much-screen-time-damages-the-brain" target="_blank">this article</a>) I'm also really concerned about what these kids are missing out on by being hooked up to a screen while out in public. Back in the "before device" days, when my kids were toddlers and preschoolers, going out and about to stores, cafes and restaurants was a regular part of our life, and going to these places gave my kids the chance to interact with other humans in meaningful ways. Every Friday I would take my kids out grocery shopping. While we made our way through the store, we talked about what kind of cereal we'd buy, counted oranges, and discussed what colors the apples were. They behaved in the store (usually) without a device because they were involved and engaged, and not "tuning out" with a smartphone. Also on shopping day, we'd stop to get a smoothie at the juice bar. Bette, The Juice Bar Lady, would make small talk with the kids while she fixed their smoothie... telling them she liked their new hats, or asking if they're excited about their new little brother, or what's your favorite fruit? Would Bette have bothered to try to engage my kids if they'd had their noses buried in a screen? I'm thinking maybe not. When we waiting for our food at restaurants, my kids were occupied reading picture books, drawing, playing tic-tac-toe or I Spy. They were actively engaged with the other humans at the table, instead of a smartphone. And these interactions, me, with Bette, and various cashiers, waitstaff, fellow shoppers and restaurant patrons, were such valuable experiences for my kids. They learned so much about the world on all those outings. All these babies I see with device in their hands? They are totally missing out on these experiences... and what will be the long-term effect of this?<br />
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I'm not sure I want to know. <br />
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<br />jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-36762956902493718872016-04-05T14:18:00.000-07:002016-04-05T14:18:38.929-07:00Introducing... SimpleLife Home SolutionsSo, I have some big things to share! After taking a <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2015/06/healing-my-family.html" target="_blank">year and a half off </a>to give my family my full attention, I'm back to work. I have REALLY enjoyed the time I have been off and I'm going to miss being "just a mom" more than anything... but bills have got to be paid, so, back to work it is.<br />
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Because I'm still full time homeschooling four kids, my employment options are somewhat limited. I thought long and hard about what I could do that would allow me to still care for my home and family and homeschool, but would also bring in a paycheck. Now that my kids are getting older, I also wanted to find a job that I could build on in the future, when I'm no longer a full-time mom. And finally, I wanted to find work that I could feel passionate about... work that would be creatively stimulating, and would maybe make a difference in people's lives. Sounds like a pretty tall order, no?<br />
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So I started a my own business! I'm working as a Professional Organizer, and I'm really, really excited about it. I've always LOVED organizing and, as those who've read this blog before know, I love teaching others about simplifying and finding the peace that comes with that. I'm discovering that it's really satisfying to help people find solutions to the areas of their homes and lives that are causing them stress, so their lives can run more smoothly. I officially launched SimpleLife Home Solutions last month, and have been very busy getting set up and rolling. If you'd like, you can see the Facebook page here:<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/simplelifehomesolutions/">https://www.facebook.com/simplelifehomesolutions/</a><br />
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Getting back to work has not been without it's challenges. I'm still very much finding my "sea legs" as far as juggling the new business while already working a full-time "job" managing my home, family and homeschooling. I'm also currently enrolled in an online class! The days have been very long, and I'm still figuring out how to get everything done that needs doing. Some days are better than others, and I do confess that sometimes by the end of a 16 hour day, I'm GRUMPY. I do plan to work on ways to get the family to pitch in more, so I don't end up burning out. This "balancing" thing is all very much a work-in-progress, though having done this before (as in, worked a full-time job while being a homeschooling mom) I have learned a lot about what NOT to do, so I do feel somewhat better equipped this time around.<br />
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So that's what's up! I'm really looking forward to really getting into a groove with this new career.<br />
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<br />jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-11954678581961459132016-03-24T12:42:00.001-07:002016-03-24T12:42:50.732-07:00My New Coffee Station! I haven't had a whole lot of time to write anything here of late... because I've been a busybusy bee, starting up a new business and taking an online class, along with my regular Homeschoolin' Mom Duties. I'll have more to share about the new business venture soon, along with links to my shiny new website, once it's finished! I'm trying to get back into the groove of balancing work and family again, <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2015/06/healing-my-family.html" target="_blank">after taking some time off</a>, so I've been feeling more than a little scatter-brained these last few weeks. <div>
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Which brings me to the subject of this post: Coffee! Yes, coffee. Because I've had a lot on my plate, I've been needing a bit more coffee to keep myself going these days. But here's a funny story... it's been years since I've had a coffee maker. I've been making do with a french press (that I've really never gotten the hang of... ) or with <a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article/1708" target="_blank">Trader Joe's Cold Brew </a> or with a stop to Dunkin's or Starbucks (which is a little rough on the wallet) So earlier this week I broke down and just got myself a cheap coffee maker. And then, because this is how I roll, I ended up totally reorganizing my counters to make room for the coffee maker, which then led me to just make a little Pinterest-inspired "Coffee Station". I'd be lying if I didn't say that this was also inspired by my wishing to avoid dealing with the paper piles on my desk and backlog of emails in my inbox. But, whatever the inspiration, I have to say, I LOVE my new little coffee station! </div>
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Here's a look... </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My "coffee station" is pretty small and bare-bones <br />compared to some, but it suits my needs perfectly. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a thrift-shop tray, I have canisters for tea, coffee and coffee<br />filters, a coffee scoop, spoons in a vintage pitcher, and a wee<br />cream and sugar set that belonged to my grandmother. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm... coffee!</td></tr>
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jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-71987411607849956252016-03-14T17:49:00.001-07:002016-03-14T17:49:19.710-07:002016 Sugaring Season Wrap Up (and... "How to Preserve Your Syrup")<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This weekend we wrapped up a busy season of Maple Sugaring! Although our season was only about 4 weeks long, the weather conditions during those four weeks were absolutely perfect for maple sap flow... cold nights, warmer days. From our nine taps, we were gathering anywhere from 4 to 12 gallons per day! We had so much sap coming in, we actually ran out of places to store it. Sap must be kept cold, or it will spoil, so we had our spare fridge and freezer filled, as well as our chest freezer, and still couldn't find space for all that was coming in. We did a couple of mid-week boils, but still had to dump a few buckets that we had no room to store. We did five boils total, turning about 112 gallons of sap into over two gallons of syrup.<br />
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Last year, we only produced about 2 quarts of syrup, so there really wasn't a need to preserve it. A few pancake breakfasts with our big family, and it was all gone. But this year, we have enough that we'll be able use it through out the year! In order to keep it fresh, we canned our syrup in mason jars. I read a few different things about this... some say you can just pour the hot syrup into the sterile jars, and call it a day. But, I tend to be a bit paranoid about food poisoning (reasonable, yes?) so I chose to process my jars in a hot water bath, the same as one would with jam, <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2012/07/pickles.html" target="_blank">pickles</a> or <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2012/10/an-apple-butter-lesson-plus-two-for-one.html" target="_blank">apple butter</a>.<br />
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Now that the last of our syrup is all canned up, it's time for my least favorite part of maple sugaring... the clean up. I'm currently working on cleaning all our equipment... the buckets, taps, tubing, etc... so we can store them away for next year. It's not really fun. But... the end of maple season means we're onward to our next adventures here on the Homestead. SPRING is about to begin, so we'll be starting our garden, tending our beehive and enjoying more time outdoors. So much to look forward to!</div>
jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-71790492282798400962016-03-03T16:33:00.003-08:002016-03-03T16:34:24.822-08:00DIY Maple Syrup Evaporator<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're currently fully immersed in Maple Sugaring Season here at the Homestead. We <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2016/02/its-maple-sugaring-season.html" target="_blank">tapped our trees</a> about two and a half weeks ago, and the sap has been flowing like crazy! We've done three boils so far, and will be doing another this weekend. With more the twice the number of taps we had <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2015/04/maple-sugaring-wrap-up.html" target="_blank">last year</a>, we've ended up with more sap than we can keep up with!<br />
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Last year was our first year sugaring, and we definitely made a few mistakes along the way. But we've learned quite a bit from those mistakes, and came away with several ideas for improvements. The biggest change from last year is that we redesigned our homemade evaporator. Our set up last year was VERY primitive, as you can see in the photo below...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqpSmE09zWA1ADnBimrAUsxDZWP1ti9Y5GcilZC5RjUE5dAsNGOhDqmBsREU0PohyphenhyphenBw8fmte2tcHUaMAxKio-KDzg-aRsYRNf2bynYGIkxcoEMEiD3EpvVpDNenfR1aD2H3-itnjGwTg/s1600/2015-03-21+08.07.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqpSmE09zWA1ADnBimrAUsxDZWP1ti9Y5GcilZC5RjUE5dAsNGOhDqmBsREU0PohyphenhyphenBw8fmte2tcHUaMAxKio-KDzg-aRsYRNf2bynYGIkxcoEMEiD3EpvVpDNenfR1aD2H3-itnjGwTg/s320/2015-03-21+08.07.40.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015 evaporator</td></tr>
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While this basically got the job done, it had several downsides. For one, it was open at both ends, so it didn't hold the heat well... it was really hard to keep the sap at a good rolling boil. Also, it was very smoky, and in the end the syrup definitely had a vaguely smoky taste. Not quite what we had in mind.<br />
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For this year's boil, we did a lot of research, and looked at a lot of different evaporator set ups. We ended up with this: </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2016 evaporator</td></tr>
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This set up worked SO much better! The back is closed up with cinder blocks, and we added a chimney. We also set the pans directly on the cinder blocks, closer to the fire. This evaporator was so much more efficient than last year's that our sap boiled down in much less time. It was really easy to build... It only took us about 10 minutes to put together, using about $40 worth of materials from Home Depot (12 cinder blocks, vent pipe, and a few bricks that we already had) We were so happy with this, that we plan to use this same set up next year, as well.<br />
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Next post, I'll be sharing how I've preserved all the syrup we've made. Until then... stay warm, friends... Spring is just 16 days away!<br />
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jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-55344902010960853552016-02-16T16:32:00.000-08:002016-02-16T16:32:40.542-08:00It's Maple Sugaring Season!The forecast for the coming weeks in our area of the country predicts temps in the upper 30's-40's during the day and 20's-low 30's at night... which means that Maple Sugaring Season has begun! These are the perfect weather conditions for the maple sap to flow... above-freezing temps during the day, with below-freezing temps at night.<br />
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This has been the week of Maple Sugaring Preparations for us... we cleaned and sterilized our equipment, bought a couple of new buckets and spiles, tapped the trees and started gathering up piles and piles of kindling and wood for our first boil (hopefully!) next weekend.<br />
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This is our second year of sugaring. Last year, we had four taps in two big maple trees. We ended up with about 35 gallons of sap, which boiled down to about 2 quarts of syrup (you can read all about last year's sugaring <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2015/04/maple-sugaring-wrap-up.html" target="_blank">here</a>) This year, we've stepped it up to nine taps in 7 trees! I can't wait to see how much sap we end up with.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2ovaIX0cm9YgwKbi77bbGBQdnJ85eVNNmH3TzmrCDb97Q5QgLeyjJ2sNJhMZn-uFN_LIHfmqhiZ38gjHqEjsK1pcwlgeHvDDB_i6x1_-16qzEMXjAN5KtRyJHW6wjyXMAqRRrsDu9ss/s1600/20160215_150745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2ovaIX0cm9YgwKbi77bbGBQdnJ85eVNNmH3TzmrCDb97Q5QgLeyjJ2sNJhMZn-uFN_LIHfmqhiZ38gjHqEjsK1pcwlgeHvDDB_i6x1_-16qzEMXjAN5KtRyJHW6wjyXMAqRRrsDu9ss/s400/20160215_150745.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All ready to tap!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">drilling holes for the spiles</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We use plastic spiles with plastic tubing that<br /> that goes into 5 gallon buckets for most of <br />our trees... it's a little cleaner and more efficient <br />than the old fashioned metal spiles and pails. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIvAIVo8acdhUDC8tnCWLvJdw8gTK-Qb2GVecDPaHAA4SF4ATcMKKeAdwnDw9ogOKqhzE84d3jDKyz3uHe_N6Y6nD9z-dHkgSw09uAS6gOGSrdfPA406efdSxuqou_xcidAi7cByLYt4/s1600/20160215_153938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIvAIVo8acdhUDC8tnCWLvJdw8gTK-Qb2GVecDPaHAA4SF4ATcMKKeAdwnDw9ogOKqhzE84d3jDKyz3uHe_N6Y6nD9z-dHkgSw09uAS6gOGSrdfPA406efdSxuqou_xcidAi7cByLYt4/s400/20160215_153938.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYUhGO8BOHoDL69j9gM9cu89mHlY6hnMiAeBQoSMTjAp9q2855RZKfIWZpIN9ILs4Sgm3t88R0HX0QcQoiP8weaqNqu9VW7IzoUvCeCsjhZMReMziDFLUw74cAfei2x9HitVVon9TmCU/s1600/20160215_161723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYUhGO8BOHoDL69j9gM9cu89mHlY6hnMiAeBQoSMTjAp9q2855RZKfIWZpIN9ILs4Sgm3t88R0HX0QcQoiP8weaqNqu9VW7IzoUvCeCsjhZMReMziDFLUw74cAfei2x9HitVVon9TmCU/s400/20160215_161723.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">However... a couple of the trees are on a big<br />slope, so we had a hard time keeping the plastic<br />buckets from tipping over. On those trees, we're<br />trying the old-fashioned buckets that hang <br />right up on the tree. I think they're quite charming.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzG6DGFlGXqfwDHGPe61BncO7rM__mJhKonf6hiHLziFzn75DduR18aOfxGq-BH9scHUcMwb_60A7b8D_T93V0oZvz7nnzjixnRRSlUog4OkFCDCBNDgD8NPni91u_VqhM5hyaAQ02y3M/s1600/20160215_161814_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzG6DGFlGXqfwDHGPe61BncO7rM__mJhKonf6hiHLziFzn75DduR18aOfxGq-BH9scHUcMwb_60A7b8D_T93V0oZvz7nnzjixnRRSlUog4OkFCDCBNDgD8NPni91u_VqhM5hyaAQ02y3M/s400/20160215_161814_001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big ol' maple with two taps.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHDrfUrOtXXgKMRVjatSk1ErxxaJVVpVjxHTdIFanVIICeay5KDXJBsXN6LVi71lt-PT8XgxxliEHL69uskVK4TLPGtEc6qnN5vvjIpsa4JgEsUN6ZLUUvTJC8-e6LiCF5mpvLLRmr5s/s1600/IMG_20160207_161919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHDrfUrOtXXgKMRVjatSk1ErxxaJVVpVjxHTdIFanVIICeay5KDXJBsXN6LVi71lt-PT8XgxxliEHL69uskVK4TLPGtEc6qnN5vvjIpsa4JgEsUN6ZLUUvTJC8-e6LiCF5mpvLLRmr5s/s400/IMG_20160207_161919.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've started collecting kindling, for when it's time to boil.</td></tr>
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<br />If all goes as planned, I'll be reporting back next week with how our first boil of the season went! Until then... stay warm... less than 6 weeks till the first day of Spring!<br /><div>
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jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-3380378888245942302016-02-05T10:25:00.000-08:002016-02-05T10:25:01.410-08:00Room Reveal... New Bathroom! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of our big projects this winter has been to give our main bathroom a much-needed face lift. I've hated this bathroom since I bought this house nearly 9 years ago, but since it was mainly a cosmetic issue, it ended up pretty low on the priority list.<br />
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When I first moved in, the bathroom had 1960's aqua-blue tiles on the lower half of the walls, with hideous pink and blue sponge painting on the upper half of the walls. Really. Ugly. To make it tolerable while we waited to fully renovate, I painted over the tile and sponge painting, which was definitely an improvement. But in my desire to escape the onslaught of pink and blue, I went a little ~too~ neutral, so for 8 years we've lived with this very bland and boring bathroom. We definitely needed to do something with this space. Here are some "Before" pics...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NE8K7UzRmAtMoUYuO4BUIr9M7eIyWFE-KTjPfa_XHxh9IiISgwrGTiEbaobnrluQtb_mBis2Q_t7eC3gaHrxhutyjm3BP4ZqXbHl_qt0HrpnK-Te3OJ3djYMAcQFKePT7UnelhoNggs/s1600/2015-03-30+14.01.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NE8K7UzRmAtMoUYuO4BUIr9M7eIyWFE-KTjPfa_XHxh9IiISgwrGTiEbaobnrluQtb_mBis2Q_t7eC3gaHrxhutyjm3BP4ZqXbHl_qt0HrpnK-Te3OJ3djYMAcQFKePT7UnelhoNggs/s320/2015-03-30+14.01.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before. ~yawn~</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJuP2Aua1Xg7Koz95dW8j5AJMrpE3mMJlWYL6hSz_q2VkroavwtosaxHFi7sIQguLic16XMgE7KGtC-yM2PPLl7qCCkwcuYswGXX_nFBiUeeqv9Ty7YAZiubyYy-PHGDKtGqhoni0Q5s/s1600/2015-03-30+14.01.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJuP2Aua1Xg7Koz95dW8j5AJMrpE3mMJlWYL6hSz_q2VkroavwtosaxHFi7sIQguLic16XMgE7KGtC-yM2PPLl7qCCkwcuYswGXX_nFBiUeeqv9Ty7YAZiubyYy-PHGDKtGqhoni0Q5s/s320/2015-03-30+14.01.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before, with the aqua tile painted beige</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKhs98lNYK8cwn18eIop3PlcuwQuIKirKXcu22Rph6tx-U0KE-xuAo3wkkyVIR9UlHpQV9ayZXJSympNBItzzYketvatZPy_-WLxLUhPayyTuQ6jPwodnX7L0xJa6zpSAnZtBhdwxmfE/s1600/2015-03-30+14.02.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKhs98lNYK8cwn18eIop3PlcuwQuIKirKXcu22Rph6tx-U0KE-xuAo3wkkyVIR9UlHpQV9ayZXJSympNBItzzYketvatZPy_-WLxLUhPayyTuQ6jPwodnX7L0xJa6zpSAnZtBhdwxmfE/s320/2015-03-30+14.02.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before. Note the broken drawer in the vanity, and the sink that<br />
is off-center from the mirror. This off-center sink drove <br />
me MAD for almost 9 years. Seriously. Who does that!? </td></tr>
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This project was finally kick-started due to a plumbing problem we had in the fall, which required our plumber to cut a big hole in the wall. We figured since the demolition was already started, we might as well go all the way. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BFQwvsr4g2NeJoJRRAPyR_zUpwUElJBvhn4LWa6RnZ1KVvnjuls0UtvRouce2i3A4jM0RVqECax1yulOafRmJPdCuBqpYQRYwWlWW6CvCq01-MbHdLli2CWISCX2kgEXiY1aLNR6PDo/s1600/2015-08-12+13.30.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BFQwvsr4g2NeJoJRRAPyR_zUpwUElJBvhn4LWa6RnZ1KVvnjuls0UtvRouce2i3A4jM0RVqECax1yulOafRmJPdCuBqpYQRYwWlWW6CvCq01-MbHdLli2CWISCX2kgEXiY1aLNR6PDo/s320/2015-08-12+13.30.12.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So it begins... </td></tr>
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We pried all the old tiles off the walls, and pulled out the old vanity and mirror...<br />
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Next, we had a carpenter come in to install bead board, trim and baseboards. We thought about doing this ourselves, but worried it was beyond our skill set, so we decided it was best to call in a professional. We're very glad we did. Nothing in our old home is square, so we'd have probably made a mess of things.</div>
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Once the carpenter finished, we painted the walls green and the bead board and trim a creamy white. After years of boring beige, it was fun to get a little color in here.</div>
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After we put in new light fixtures and the plumber installed the new sink, we were ready for the final touches on our new bathroom!</div>
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Ta-da!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shower curtain, from Target,<br />
which inspired <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">our color scheme. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found this fun reproduction antique TP holder<br />
on Ebay... it says "London Paper Co"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old ladder to hold towels, and a cute little<br />
sign I found in a clearance bin. I think<br />
"I will be Grateful for this day" is a great<br />
message for us all to look at as we wash<br />
up each morning and prepare for our day </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8iGCbMeyDCUolVYivQzItnglDABrDcTsQpVl5QtDrIOoYZeR6E4WV28goDLosXsEjgUIA2nH4SEWGsRYKqojh44FRJa3P9Ljbwes5VNJmLgjK6Lvkiq9irBCQ_EmAyo2SXT0Ox7P3iU/s1600/20160202_132907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8iGCbMeyDCUolVYivQzItnglDABrDcTsQpVl5QtDrIOoYZeR6E4WV28goDLosXsEjgUIA2nH4SEWGsRYKqojh44FRJa3P9Ljbwes5VNJmLgjK6Lvkiq9irBCQ_EmAyo2SXT0Ox7P3iU/s400/20160202_132907.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelves made from a stack of old crates to<br />
hold necessities like wash cloths, Qtips,<br />
cotton balls, epsom salts, etc.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3G5W_LI7GnkFQnMx91ltpNibRyhUr6wzHcMct7XM9bK590rZ8HRz098I_RjEH2Ojx-E3lzKbhishrHpBljTzj9bbFw6vWOtZD8RaeITU_JTBhy7bxtb-nh-D36QI1A1mYxIBcbTY5-E/s1600/20160202_132936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3G5W_LI7GnkFQnMx91ltpNibRyhUr6wzHcMct7XM9bK590rZ8HRz098I_RjEH2Ojx-E3lzKbhishrHpBljTzj9bbFw6vWOtZD8RaeITU_JTBhy7bxtb-nh-D36QI1A1mYxIBcbTY5-E/s400/20160202_132936.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wood boxes under the sink hold <br />
cleaning supplies, while the big jar<br />
holds assorted handmade soaps.</td></tr>
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I'm really happy with how this room turned out. It suits our casual style, and feels like it "fits" much better in our 1890's house. Since we reused much of what was there already (tub, toilet and tile floor were all left as-is) we were able to get this done pretty cheap.<br />
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So here's something... this renovation is a milestone of sorts. It took nearly 9 years, but we've finally redone every room in the house... this bathroom was the last one. But now, some of the rooms we did early on are starting to look a bit ragged again... nothing too major, but definitely needing a little patching and repainting. When I bought my first house, someone told me that your home is never really "done"... there is always something else that comes up. They weren't kidding!<br />
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But all that can wait for the time being. We're taking a little breather on home projects, now that the bathroom is finished. We're enjoying a nice "snow day" today, and after the weekend we'll be getting ready for Maple Sugaring Season! I can't wait!<br />
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jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-75914061603648778662016-02-02T10:49:00.003-08:002016-02-02T10:49:53.668-08:00January Highlights, "Sneak Peaks" and Big Plans... I remember writing up my New Year's Intentions post, on New Year's Eve, just so excited to see what January 1 would have in store for us. Well, turns out January had SO much in store, I was far too busy living my life to write about it! Here were some highlights:<br />
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1. We finished up a deeee-lightful Winter Break, and got back into our full roster of activities, classes, etc. Homeschooling four active kids between the ages of 11 and 17 is always an adventure ;)<br />
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2. We've been getting my middle boy ready for SCHOOL! Yup, after homeschooling for his whole life, he's decided he wants to try high school next year... so, we've been spending lots of time perusing literature, attending orientations, parent nights and info sessions and meeting with guidance counselors. Exciting stuff! I think this will be a positive experience for him.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxNBHgcq6zKcixOp5UlqIlTlmXKI0wjq9mzGCXP1YBF2edqKA6H0ul0L5172W5c-jn_RadWBbUm5p5Cyp3pRuJLOO18XLzkPjMWdbCl-iUg522lhA6Ry6DMg74vESjQ7lKQvquxI-weI/s1600/20160202_132852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxNBHgcq6zKcixOp5UlqIlTlmXKI0wjq9mzGCXP1YBF2edqKA6H0ul0L5172W5c-jn_RadWBbUm5p5Cyp3pRuJLOO18XLzkPjMWdbCl-iUg522lhA6Ry6DMg74vESjQ7lKQvquxI-weI/s200/20160202_132852.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Sneak Peak" at my<br />new bathroom! Full<br />reveal coming soon!</td></tr>
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3. We've been renovating the bathroom. It's nearly finished, and there will be a "Room Reveal" post coming soon, with Before and After pics!<br />
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Meanwhile... we've also been enjoying some other nice winter-time diversions, such as cookie-baking, winter walks, hot chocolate and lattes, reading, crafting, ice-skating... typical January-type stuff.<br />
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But now... it's FEBRUARY... which means it's time to start thinking ahead to What's Next. In our case, that means we're going to start preparing to tap the trees for Maple Sugaring, and we're going to start planning this year's garden and ordering seeds.<br />
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The First Day of SPRING is less than 7 weeks away!jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-59083834408872892082015-12-31T14:19:00.000-08:002015-12-31T15:17:25.576-08:00New Year's Intentions, 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, well, well... somehow, 2015 has slipped right by, and a New Year is upon us! 2015 was a pretty great year for us! I can't wait to see what's in store for 2016.<br />
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Like many others, this is the time of year when I take a look at how my life is going, and take stock of things I'm struggling with, goals I want to accomplish, successes, failures, etc. I sit down each year and make a list of "Intentions" for the New Year. These are different than Resolutions, which seem a bit too "all or nothing" for me. You can see my past posts on Intentions by following the links here: <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2015/01/new-years-intentions-2015.html" target="_blank">New Years Intentions</a><br />
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In looking back at last year's list, I found I made GREAT progress on a couple of things, but zero progress on a couple more. That's life, I guess. But overall, my life definitely moved forward in wonderful, positive ways in 2015, so that is something I feel pretty good about. My <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2015/11/journey-toward-health-and-wellness.html" target="_blank">health is much improved </a>this year. I've been trying hard to work on patience and gratitude. And most notable: I've tried lots of things I've always wanted to do (like <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2015/04/maple-sugaring-wrap-up.html" target="_blank">maple sugaring</a>, <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2015/05/inspecting-hive.html" target="_blank">beekeeping</a> and soap making!) I'm hoping to continue moving forward, growing, improving, and enjoying life in 2016!<br />
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So... on to this year's list:<br />
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<b>1. More Art.</b> This was on last year's list, and... it really never happened. Life is busy, there was a lot going on, and once again, Art fell by the wayside. So... I'm going to try again this year! More Art!<br />
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<b>2. Continue my journey toward good health.</b> While I've made good progress on this one, I still have lots of room for improvement. So, I will continue to try to make caring for my body with good nutrition and exercise a priority in 2016.<br />
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<b>3. Stick to a budget, and start saving something each month. </b>This is ALWAYS a tough one, and I know we're not alone in this. I'm hoping that we'll be able to stick to our budget at least mostly, make it possible to start contributing to saving for the future, which is something we've not been so good at in the past.<br />
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<b>4. Daily Journaling.</b> This is something I've been wanting to do for a while, but just haven't been able to motivate myself. I was recently given the gift of one of those cool "daily prompt"-type journals from a good friend, which is just the kick I needed to get started. I'm going to start that book tomorrow, and plan to work on a "Gratitude Journal" as well.<br />
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<b>5. Spend more time being a Fun Mom.</b> I always wanted to be a Fun Mom, and when my kids were little, I think I was, at least most of the time. We were always off on adventures, doing fun things together. As they got older, life got in the way, and I feel like I got too wrapped up in daily survival to focus on having fun. This has gotten better since I quit my job in 2014, but now that they're (almost) all teenagers, I realize I've missed out on a lot. My youngest recently reminded me that we never play games anymore. He's right. We don't. That needs to change. Our <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2015/07/its-boy.html" target="_blank">oldest boy</a> will be leaving the nest this summer, and my middle boy will be giving up homeschooling to attend High School next school year, so I really want to make the most of the rest of the time I have with them this year.<br />
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So that's it for my list of New Year's Intentions for this year. Now I'm going to go spend this New Year's Eve with my family... eating pizza, watching <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110074/" target="_blank">The Hudsucker Proxy</a> and playing games until 2015 comes to a close.<br />
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May you all have a peaceful, joyous, love-filled, and very Happy New Year.<br />
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<br />jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-64669177161643027822015-12-29T10:42:00.001-08:002015-12-29T10:42:22.024-08:00Holiday Wrap Up, 2015!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIH4Teo1-fCN9ptlHqlqKK5Flc9UESaYOWzMmwNDG4eK8Fhwqhc67rhSq23PqxdmH8vS4o8fBYKYeBYnZCkHOmlCYwKVTcxtGkcyA6HUDutppa7ARFpL0d0Y4tLSE7D1-1vAAgzzcL7M/s1600/solstice+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIH4Teo1-fCN9ptlHqlqKK5Flc9UESaYOWzMmwNDG4eK8Fhwqhc67rhSq23PqxdmH8vS4o8fBYKYeBYnZCkHOmlCYwKVTcxtGkcyA6HUDutppa7ARFpL0d0Y4tLSE7D1-1vAAgzzcL7M/s400/solstice+window.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter Solstice window</td></tr>
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After much merriment over the last few weeks, the Holiday Season is finally winding down. It's been a good one for us! I hope it was for you, too. Since <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2015/12/savoring-season.html" target="_blank">last post</a>, we've enjoyed a Solstice Feast, Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day!<br />
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Our Solstice celebration was last Tuesday... we were joined by my sister and her fiance, and we all enjoyed a lovely candle-lit evening, filled with good food, and good company.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1NefuXKfnCXvAlBqb9OGUasb2rk1Sl6Gg9TnM2e_gCxRC7dhxbeSjokLT8JRAtwIs0pLLcl3ANY6AkJG8SQl4oK_XeAMGiYMfvFS452fseWFqrwUyC7GLWcGMY-dIBVt737SAuqwC3I/s1600/chestnuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1NefuXKfnCXvAlBqb9OGUasb2rk1Sl6Gg9TnM2e_gCxRC7dhxbeSjokLT8JRAtwIs0pLLcl3ANY6AkJG8SQl4oK_XeAMGiYMfvFS452fseWFqrwUyC7GLWcGMY-dIBVt737SAuqwC3I/s400/chestnuts.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We roasted chestnuts over an open fire... </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional Solstice ice lanterns.. though, with <br />
temps in the 50's, they didn't last very long! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The table is set... ready for the feast... </td></tr>
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Christmas Eve and Christmas were also spent here at home. Christmas is a quiet, casual affair for us. We enjoyed having a couple of visitors, Skyped with my parents in Florida, and were very grateful for some quiet family time. We wrapped up Christmas Day as we always do, with take-out Chinese and a Christmas movie (this year, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319343/" target="_blank">Elf</a>!) </div>
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As of now, We're currently in Christmas Recovery Mode. I'm clearing up the Christmas Clutter, and getting our home back to "normal." I am also savoring the remains of Winter Break before the kids' classes and activities start up again next week. It's nice to have some time to catch up on things here at home, and to have a little "downtime." </div>
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Next post, I'll be talking about <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2015/01/new-years-intentions-2015.html" target="_blank">New Year's Intentions</a>, as well as some fun new stuff I'm planning for the New Year! </div>
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jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-36565266372030335622015-12-17T05:27:00.000-08:002015-12-17T05:27:52.719-08:00Savoring the Season... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's a lot to love about the month of December. We've spent the first half of this month winding down from Autumn and gearing up for the coming Winter. We've been "Decking the Halls" and making our home cozy for the long, dark nights. We've been enjoying some of our favorite traditions, such as trimming our tree, making decorations and special gifts, going to parties, attending our town's "Holiday Stroll" event... and there have been holiday concerts, and we saw a wonderful production of A Christmas Carol! There are always so many great things happening this time of year. We always make it a point to cut back on regular Homeschool stuff in December, to give us more time to focus on these special activities and traditions.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our living room, decked out for the season. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This year's<a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2012/12/making-holiday-wreaths.html" target="_blank"> handmade wreath</a>... one of my favorite traditions.</td></tr>
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<br />So we've been keeping ourselves happily busy with all of these fun December activities. But we've also devoted a good deal of our time this month to doing our daily "good deed" picked from our<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"<a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2014/12/our-acts-of-kindness-tree.html" target="_blank">Acts of Kindness</a>" Tree. The kids and I have been enjoying giving back in small ways (like donating to our local food bank, buying poinsettias for the nursing home, baking cookies for our librarians, paying for someone's coffee) and in bigger ways, like organizing a coat and blanket drive for the homeless in our area. It makes me crazy proud as a Mama when I see my kids getting excited and enthusiastic about giving and helping others. For me, it's personal in a different way... I've been on the receiving end of SO much kindness and assistance during the years when things were really rough for us, so it's really important for me to Pay it Forward now that I'm able to. <div>
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The next few days will be spent preparing for our Solstice Feast! We've got lots to do! Making ice lanterns, finishing up the menu planning, decorating, baking, etc. This is my favorite celebration of the season! I love embracing and celebrating the Earth's cycles. I'm one of those people who really lives by the seasons. Our routines, the way we eat and the activities we engage in all change and flow with the seasons. I find immense amounts of comfort in this. It makes me feel connected to something greater than myself. <span style="font-family: inherit;">The Winter Solstice is particularly meaningful to me. I love marking the time when the<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.735px;"> days begin to get longer again, minute by minute, each day. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.735px;">I love thinking about how our ancestors have celebrated the Return of the Light for thousands of years. This dark, cozy time of year is a time of reflection, appreciation and togetherness.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.735px;"> </span></span><br />
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“Winter is the time for comfort,</h1>
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for good food and warmth, </h1>
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for the touch of a friendly hand </h1>
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and for a talk beside the fire:</h1>
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it is the time for home.”</h1>
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~Edith Sitwell</div>
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jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-63059409674204596722015-11-19T05:40:00.001-08:002015-11-19T13:14:33.602-08:00Finding Gratitude in Unexpected Places<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm taking a tea break, in the midst of this busy morning, and reflecting on the importance of Gratitude. Sometimes when we're rushing around, tending to all the STUFF life throws at us every single day, trying to stay on top of everything we're responsible for, it can be hard to take a moment to stop, take a breath, and remember how Blessed and lucky we are. The chaos happening in the world right now really has me thinking about this even more than usual. I'm sitting here, going over my "to do" list for today, and while I grumble to myself about having to do this stuff, I'm realizing that each of the tasks before me is a Blessing in disguise. </span></span><br />
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<b>1. Driving my kids to classes and activities, helping with schoolwork, etc...</b> I'm so lucky to have a beautiful family, and so grateful that we've been able to arrange our lives so that I can be with them full time, homeschooling them, caring for them, providing them with what they need. I don't always do it well, but I'm thankful that I'm given the chance to try again, everyday, to do my best for them.<br />
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<b>2. Housework... </b>I have a warm, comfortable home, filled with busy, active children. I complain a lot about how much work it is to maintain my home and care for the people in it... but really, I'm SO lucky to have a nice house in a safe neighborhood. So many in the world do not. Again, I am Grateful.<br />
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<b>3. Food Prep...</b> Every parent knows the struggle of getting dinner on the table every night, as well as other meals, but... I'm Thankful that I'm able to provide healthy, wholesome meals for my family every day.<br />
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<b>4. Community Service...</b> There have been periods of time where we have really struggled, financially, and have not had much extra to share. Those have been hard times. Today, we'll be participating in a project to provide Care Packages to troops overseas, who are not with their families during the holiday season. I'm Grateful that I currently have enough resources that I can share a little bit with others.<br />
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<b>5. Doctor appointment... </b>I have an appointment today, because I am Blessed with good medical coverage, so that I can stay healthy, and get the care I need when I'm not.<br />
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<b>6. Laundry...</b> It's never-ending with a family this size, but yes, I'm even Grateful for laundry. It means that my family has plenty of warm clothing to keep them comfortable as the weather is getting colder.<br />
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Several studies have shown that people who regularly express Gratitude are happier than those who do not. This really makes a lot of sense to me! When I stop and take time to remind myself of all the good things I have in my life, and to share gratitude with the ones I love, I feel happier. This is something that I would like to make a daily habit, especially when those "poor me" feelings we all get from time to time come creeping in. I'm giving myself a Gratitude Challenge... each day I plan to write down some things I'm thankful for, and to express my Gratitude to my loved ones each day for the good they bring into my life. Will you join me in this challenge?<br />
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<br />jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-50585653358643438332015-11-13T14:27:00.000-08:002015-11-13T14:30:39.271-08:00Journey Toward Health and Wellness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Once upon a time, I had been under the impression that if I was eating a whole food vegan diet, I could eat pretty much whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, and be healthy. I exercised, though quite sporadically, and while I knew that I should be moving more, I figured I was still probably pretty healthy based on my diet alone.<br />
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One year ago, I went in for my annual physical, and found that in spite of my whole food vegan diet, I was the heaviest I'd ever been in my life. I spent a pretty good portion of my adult life in the underweight to low average range, but as I approached middle age, my weight started creeping up. Also, my cholesterol up to 206 and my triglycerides to 231! As a vegan! I couldn't imagine how this could be, with my relatively healthy lifestyle, but apparently genetics play a big role in this stuff, and genetics were not working in my favor. </div>
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I had been promising myself for years that I would start working out more regularly and lose some weight. But, when it became more about my health than vanity, I finally began to make some real changes. I started making exercise a priority in my life. That has been a real challenge at times, as there always seems to be something "more important" that needs to be done. But a good friend of mine gave me some advice... she said to view exercise the same way you view brushing your teeth. It's not optional. It's something you must do as basic care for yourself. I began with walking more, and eventually stepped up my routine by adding weight training. I made the commitment to work out at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week, no matter what else is going on. </div>
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I also started paying more attention to the calories I was consuming, and boy, was that a shock. Although everything I was eating was "healthy" I was eating a lot of really calorie-dense foods (nuts, seeds, avocados, etc) which were making my daily caloric intake higher than it needed to be. I began to practice some conscientious portion control, and experimented with Intermittent Fasting. There is a lot of information out there about IF, and lots of different ways to approach it. IF proponents say fasting for a part of each day or each week gives your digestive system a break, and can help with insulin resistance and inflammation. I wasn't sure this method would work for me, as I am someone who doesn't fast well... so I did a very modified approach, which involved not eating after 6 pm (which I almost never do anyway) and then just delaying my morning meal. This works out to 16-18 hours of fasting (a good chunk of which is sleep time) and 6-8 hours of eating normally. During the waking fasting hours, I do drink lots of water with lemon, herbal tea and I do have my morning coffee. And, if I feel really hungry, I do eat something. The best thing about IF for me is that it's given me an increased awareness of my body's hunger cues. I no longer eat because it's time to eat, but instead when I feel genuinely hungry. This awareness has been life-changing for me. </div>
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When I went back for my physical this year, I finally saw the results of all this effort. My weight is down nearly 15 pounds, I've lost 3 inches off my waist, my cholesterol has dropped from 206 to 155, and my triglycerides have gone from 231 to 88! I feel strong and healthy. Life is good.<br />
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The biggest lesson I've learned through all this is that there are no "quick fixes." The Internet is full of promises of "Get great abs in two weeks!" "Lose weight fast!"and the like, but in real life, getting healthy and fit is a process. It won't happen overnight. But in this world of instant gratification, it's easy to get discouraged when we don't see results right away. In my case, it took several months before I started to see any real changes. But the results over the course of nearly a year have been dramatic, and well worth the effort. I'm grateful for this wake-up call, and grateful that I've had the chance to turn my health around. I still have lots of room for improvement, but it's good to be on the right track. I'm excited to continue on this journey of health and wellness, and look forward to what the future holds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZjgxYN4yqFcUxjXpvUvIymbPgCTruLH5rIU5qnuqrY4eNBoCK7Q_XivjytXsTXx7fCRSNr9KvMd3BysNM6731LDZ6pErKax8JP7KEDWxdlGqlmGoq8ZOCTJE4_O3r98plECZG-xEvzM/s1600/dirty+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZjgxYN4yqFcUxjXpvUvIymbPgCTruLH5rIU5qnuqrY4eNBoCK7Q_XivjytXsTXx7fCRSNr9KvMd3BysNM6731LDZ6pErKax8JP7KEDWxdlGqlmGoq8ZOCTJE4_O3r98plECZG-xEvzM/s200/dirty+girl.jpg" width="117" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BEFORE: 2014<br />
146 lbs<br />
Waist: 32 in<br />
Cholesterol: 206<br />
Triglycerides: 231</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOT9LViGei4NxxCPIITbFmTjbhU1cexcNvlux-UN22S39UkAgF2fMQymG9IvRsolgoJw8p9GmZ20ILdahXpAe3syzkvjrYj449cFsqD60owSUh2V4Q-aatup2lrYSz_w1n7xgBVBH-3aU/s1600/2015-11-13+11.16.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOT9LViGei4NxxCPIITbFmTjbhU1cexcNvlux-UN22S39UkAgF2fMQymG9IvRsolgoJw8p9GmZ20ILdahXpAe3syzkvjrYj449cFsqD60owSUh2V4Q-aatup2lrYSz_w1n7xgBVBH-3aU/s320/2015-11-13+11.16.21.jpg" width="152" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DURING 2015<br />
(not "after" because I'm still working!)<br />
131 lbs<br />
Waist: 29 in<br />
Cholesterol: 155<br />
Triglycerides: 88</td></tr>
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jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-26726919940233011132015-11-01T17:31:00.000-08:002015-11-01T17:31:38.913-08:00Vegan Pumpkin Macaroni and "Cheese"Back when we all still ate dairy, one of my favorite recipes for Autumn was a pumpkin mac-n-cheese. There were so many things to love about that recipe... it was warm, hearty and creamy, but also a bit healthier than straight up mac-n-cheese, due to the generous amount of squash in the sauce. When I started moving from vegetarian to vegan a few years ago, I began working on ways to adapt my favorite recipes to suit my new vegan ways. This fall, I finally got around to revamping this one, and I have to say, it's still every bit as delicious as the original recipe, but without the animal products.<br />
<br />
Instead of the cheddar and cream called for in the original recipe, this adaptation uses my favorite <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2014/01/cashew-cheese-love.html" target="_blank">cashew cheese</a> spread as a base, along with some unsweetened nut milk. The cashew cheese can be made up ahead of time, and kept in the fridge until you need it. I usually make a batch each week to have available for spreading on sandwiches, using as a veggie dip, or making creamy sauces like this one. It will keep up to a week in a sealed container in the fridge.<br />
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As for the pumpkin, I like to use fresh roasted pumpkin, but you can use canned if you prefer. If you do use canned, you'll probably need to add a bit more nut milk, as it will be thicker than fresh. To roast your own, cut a sugar pumpkin in half, scoop out the seeds, then place it face down on a greased baking pan and bake at 350 until soft enough to stick a fork in easily. This will take about 45 minutes for an average size pumpkin... adjust accordingly if your pumpkin is larger or smaller. After you bake it, let it cool and scoop the pumpkin out of the skin.<br />
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And now for the recipe...<br />
<br />
Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese<br />
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16 oz box of macaroni (you can use a gluten-free pasta, if you prefer)<br />
1/2 cup <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2014/01/cashew-cheese-love.html" target="_blank">cashew cheese</a><br />
1-1/2 cup of cooked pumpkin<br />
3/4 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk (I use almond, but you could use soy, hemp, whatever)<br />
1/4 tsp nutmeg<br />
salt and pepper to taste<br />
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While the pasta is cooking, add all the remaining ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until creamy, adding more milk if necessary to make a nice, creamy sauce. Transfer to a sauce pan, and heat through.When the pasta is done, drain it and add the sauce, stirring to coat. You can eat it just as is, or you can transfer to a casserole dish, top with breadcrumbs and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">served up with sauteed kale</td></tr>
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If you have leftover cooked pumpkin after you make this, check out these ideas to use up what's left:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2012/09/pumpkin-spice-oatmeal.html" target="_blank">Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal</a> (vegan)<br />
<a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2012/10/creamy-vegan-pumpkin-soup.html" target="_blank">Creamy Pumpkin Soup (vegan)</a><br />
<a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2014/10/totally-indulgent-vegan-pumpkin-bread.html" target="_blank">Pumpkin Bread (vegan)</a><br />
<br />jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-15352545579360414072015-10-26T17:39:00.003-07:002015-10-26T17:39:57.620-07:00Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade Vinegar in Progress...</td></tr>
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As I mentioned in my<a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2015/10/autumn-in-new-england.html" target="_blank"> recent post</a> about Autumn, we acquired a ridiculous amount of apples this season. In addition to the apples we picked on our apple-picking adventures, we also bought several bags of "seconds" from one of our favorite farms. These are the "less than perfect" apples, which are sold in big half-bushel bags for between $13-$16, depending on the variety. They are just fine for applesauce, apple butter and baking. In the end, between what we picked and what we bought, we ended up with 2.5 bushels of apples, which we turned into apple butter, apple sauce, dried apples, apple compote, apple crisp and some apple pies. We've had plenty left for eating raw, as well. It turns out that 2.5 bushels is A LOT of apples!<br />
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Since I'm the type who can't stand to waste anything, I've always wondered if there was something useful to do with all the peels and cores leftover when I make pies and compote. I usually just toss them in the compost, but I read recently that they can be used to make homemade apple cider vinegar... thanks, Internet!<br />
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As I was doing my research, I found that there are several recipes out there. Some use sugar or some pre-made vinegar to get things started, but the most basic recipe is to just stuff all your cores and scraps into jars, and cover with purified water, and let it sit. Since I'd just used up the last of my sugar making some apple compote, I decided to try making my first batch without sugar. I started with all the scraps leftover from my compote, and water that I had boiled and let cool. I did add a splash of raw cider vinegar to mine, just to get things rolling. It is really important to make sure your apple stuff is completely submerged, so it won't get moldy. Next, put coffee filters over the top of the jar and secure with the metal band (leave the cap part off) Place your jars someplace out of direct sunlight, and let them sit for a week or so. During the week you should see some little bubbles going on in there, which indicates that fermentation is happening!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost vinegar</td></tr>
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After your jars have sat for a week or so, it's time to strain out the liquid into a clean jar. Discard the solids, and then cover the liquid with another coffee filter. Now your almost-vinegar needs to sit in a warm dark place for another 6 weeks, to finish fermenting. I've read a few different things about this... some recipes say to just leave it be, while others say it's really important to stir it everyday. Since I'm brand new to this, I'm really not sure which is best. I just strained mine today, and I'm planning to stir it, though I'm guessing I won't remember to do it daily. At some point, there should be a cloudy mass in the jar... the "mother" of vinegar, which will indicate that everything is fermenting as it should.<br />
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I'm really exciting to see how this project turns out! I will most definitely post an update as our vinegar progresses.<br />
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Next post, I'll be sharing a deeeelish vegan recipe that is perfect for a chilly Autumn day... :)jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-47135061660677558032015-10-20T14:53:00.001-07:002015-10-21T04:06:10.557-07:00Speaking Out Against Hate and Discrimination<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I don't usually write controversial posts here, but due to some trouble I got myself into on Facebook recently (long story... and this post will be long enough) I ended up engaged in some dialogue that left me with some stuff on my mind.<br />
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In one part of the conversation that ensued (via email) I stated that I have no tolerance for mistreatment of those who are marginalized (in reference to the LGBT community in this case, though that sentiment goes for those who are marginalized for other reasons as well), and that statement was twisted around to say that I have no tolerance for "anyone who does not agree with (my) position on LGBT issues." Hmm. I thought long and hard about these two sentences, and what they really mean.<br />
<br />
Here is the thing. I am tolerant of alternative viewpoints. You have your beliefs, I have mine. We can debate all day about who should be president, or whether or not there should be standardized testing, vegan vs paleo, or whether we should or shouldn't go to war with another country. There are thousands of issues to which I might have a very different opinion than you, and we can disagree and the world will keep on turning.<br />
<br />
But where I draw the line is when someone's beliefs or viewpoints are harmful or discriminatory to other humans. If someone is going to insist that being gay/lesbian/trans or otherwise non-binary is a "sin" (more on that in a moment) and they do things to deny this segment of the population their basic human rights and liberties, then I will not be tolerant of that. I will not stand by and be silent as they tell other humans that they are bad, they are less, they are "disgusting" or that they are not worthy of the same rights as the rest of us. That is not simply "having a different opinion." That is hatespeak, and that is harmful to us all. If you spread this kind of hateful rhetoric, you are propagating hate, plain and simple.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Intolerance of discrimination is not a slam against or an infringement upon anyone's religion. We are ALL entitled to pray to whatever God we want, to practice whatever religious rituals we want, to celebrate whatever holidays we want, or even to not participate in any religion at all, for that matter. But human decency goes beyond religious doctrine. Treating fellow humans the way we would want to be treated is the most important principle in all faiths. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Let's talk for a minute about this whole "being gay is a sin" concept that so many people use as an excuse to discriminate. It's important to remember that the bible was written a really, really long time ago, long before the time when science determined that humans are BORN gay... it's a biological variation. Research has shown that homosexual brains look visibly different in brain scans. Being gay is not a choice any more than having autism or epilepsy or blue eyes or brown skin or flat feet is a choice. It's how you're born, it's how God made you... how can that possibly be a sin? However, mistreating those who are born different IS a choice. And THAT most definitely goes against the teachings of the bible... "<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #001320;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; line-height: 20px;">Here's another thing about LGBT discrimination, particularly for perceived religious reasons. I know several people who grew up gay/trans/non-binary in religious homes, where homosexuality was considered a sin. They were taught their whole lives that being gay is this terrible thing, which is really traumatic to someone who knows in their heart that they are gay. These people grew up hearing from their parents, their families and their church that THEY were bad, that THEY were sinful, and all suffered deep scars as a result. How is this not child abuse? Since being gay is about biology and not sin, an anti-gay religious family is just as likely to give birth to a gay child as any other family. But the child in the anti-gay home is far more likely to commit suicide or engage in self-harm than the child who comes from a loving, accepting family. And what of the children from these households who are not gay themselves? They are being taught to view other humans as less, to perpetuate discrimination, and that is tragic.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; line-height: 20px;">I grew up in a world where being gay was no big thing. There were gay people in our lives, but we never really even talked about the fact they they were gay... they just were, and it was just the way it was. I didn't know that some people thought it was a bad thing until late elementary/middle school, when kids would throw around hateful words like "fag." I'm guessing these bullies learned this stuff from their parents. Horrible.</span></span></div>
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I'm really proud that I've raised my own kids to be more accepting. By the time my daughter turned five, she had been to three weddings. The first was for my two uncles, the second was for friends... two beautiful brides, and the third was for other friends, a man and a woman. I remember a few years later having to explain to my kids about how some people thought people of the same gender shouldn't be married. The response? "Well, that's stupid. People should marry whoever they want." From the mouths of babes.</div>
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But it's not enough to teach our kids to accept others... it's also important to teach them to stand up against bullies and haters... to protect the rights of those who are marginalized. And that doesn't just apply to homophobia. Decent people stand up for those who need help, whether the bullying is about homophobia, racism, sexism, or any other -ism. Silence is acceptance. I will never be silent. </div>
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<span class="p" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-88198960879462837852015-10-11T08:00:00.000-07:002015-10-11T08:00:28.489-07:00Autumn in New England<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is currently Autumn here in New England, and I must say, this is pretty much the best place to be this time of year. We're well into our routines of the homeschool year, which keeps us pretty busy, but we're still managing to find time to enjoy ourselves with all the wonderful things that fall has to offer. Here's a little glimpse into what we've been up to...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fwKkyQ14-JVB12H_e6HhX0YL3adlzoshZ-Z6624Eo_EGoLN7sSctJEoIag1NgMocOwBtmsf0ZOxPNU8dda-CBMBpHq8lqs0zR8frfC4RcSUCt138agigJe2k3xsBXGOZvnmf3D-lVo4/s1600/20151007_144619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fwKkyQ14-JVB12H_e6HhX0YL3adlzoshZ-Z6624Eo_EGoLN7sSctJEoIag1NgMocOwBtmsf0ZOxPNU8dda-CBMBpHq8lqs0zR8frfC4RcSUCt138agigJe2k3xsBXGOZvnmf3D-lVo4/s400/20151007_144619.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've been visiting several farms, and acquiring pumpkins, mums and many, many apples... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5NBFF3z9BaOnxgpGVEkL1-jTOifKAYJaqI3xOuMtcyRASndI-h5fpCqbnNhDnZ1YKAjndw8kd-5faSNiYpBfuqN0_AFo5x2OAAEOH1rUH-FBhoErkd_UFISfBmI-fyfFVe8z1N2s8zc/s1600/20151008_160955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5NBFF3z9BaOnxgpGVEkL1-jTOifKAYJaqI3xOuMtcyRASndI-h5fpCqbnNhDnZ1YKAjndw8kd-5faSNiYpBfuqN0_AFo5x2OAAEOH1rUH-FBhoErkd_UFISfBmI-fyfFVe8z1N2s8zc/s400/20151008_160955.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've been doing lots and lots of preserving Autumn's bounty of apples...<br />
applesauce, apple butter, dried apples. And of course, we've baked some pies!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjK4Bn0NkTRXu1f1XtwkM9eCzyXaDIYkzqsN3fGjvww8pZSGoTEdXgywxLfzKjPqqI_26E6YlWPr2C8XYEXUrRdHERwZCGzKBAWjFuMKMwT_Vh5zuQERzI0p9ejLhvg8-GdEFGzsGzAs/s1600/20151008_160802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjK4Bn0NkTRXu1f1XtwkM9eCzyXaDIYkzqsN3fGjvww8pZSGoTEdXgywxLfzKjPqqI_26E6YlWPr2C8XYEXUrRdHERwZCGzKBAWjFuMKMwT_Vh5zuQERzI0p9ejLhvg8-GdEFGzsGzAs/s400/20151008_160802.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've been doing some fall gardening... clearing<br />
out the vegetable beds, cutting back the<br />
perennials, and planting fall bulbs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_wlkX0S71duYYxHiAHCh38bhAeUCqxAjWhN32GQJuwkp9bpInezsjX_cKpVcFGjceWYe8SRKaSsqGcxN-ZiRb-FQtFUw6wo7yklO_8mrbqw3Effj68sCoWDtNfdjr5TJvrl_PiNww9E/s1600/IMG_20150923_144723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_wlkX0S71duYYxHiAHCh38bhAeUCqxAjWhN32GQJuwkp9bpInezsjX_cKpVcFGjceWYe8SRKaSsqGcxN-ZiRb-FQtFUw6wo7yklO_8mrbqw3Effj68sCoWDtNfdjr5TJvrl_PiNww9E/s400/IMG_20150923_144723.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've been "Falling Up" our home, with mums and pumpkins </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0p-pVCLuoiRfanyWep5dobaQ-ERyuPcTmk3dckAWo5Dc6_kf7yVcaYaCd_jlyetjumv6skM6qlvmVXfy39gu6oXeOjUAdAldH8MsvOwUvZCzIJTkJ3Om2FCSiLpMZ4P6Kat9WX69aqXQ/s1600/20151008_160606_001-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0p-pVCLuoiRfanyWep5dobaQ-ERyuPcTmk3dckAWo5Dc6_kf7yVcaYaCd_jlyetjumv6skM6qlvmVXfy39gu6oXeOjUAdAldH8MsvOwUvZCzIJTkJ3Om2FCSiLpMZ4P6Kat9WX69aqXQ/s400/20151008_160606_001-1.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're "Falling Up" the inside of our home too... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykuBjrNRyhu6a_q0d7cxQxa5PLQXY9u6zWgZUA2y16YjovQcWqawDhgw-0JO0aw2aYPSgRtUYXo3mcl5-IWIv6QHc0Mzqd8BpzOzPRyRyf6VpmTqS9UouNaTbYx4BwF7mCsQaz_ymOeo/s1600/20151006_164219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykuBjrNRyhu6a_q0d7cxQxa5PLQXY9u6zWgZUA2y16YjovQcWqawDhgw-0JO0aw2aYPSgRtUYXo3mcl5-IWIv6QHc0Mzqd8BpzOzPRyRyf6VpmTqS9UouNaTbYx4BwF7mCsQaz_ymOeo/s400/20151006_164219.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and doing some Fall crafts...<br />
like these beeswax-dipped leaves.</td></tr>
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We've got lots more fun Fall things planned for the coming weeks... day trips, adventures, crafts, and more. Have I mentioned how much I love Fall in New England? ;)<br />
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jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-26988547682717240032015-09-22T18:15:00.000-07:002015-09-22T18:15:06.734-07:00The "Wonder Why" BoardAbout four or five years ago, I read a wonderful book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Rhythm-Family-Discovering-through/dp/1590307771" target="_blank">The Rhythm of Family: Discovering a Sense of Wonder Through the Seasons </a>by Amanda Blake Soule. I absolutely adored everything about this book, and flipped through it quite often through the years. It's chock full of reflections, ideas and activities for each season of the year.<br />
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One of the ideas in this book was to create a "Wonder Why" board... a place to post all those questions kids pose throughout the day, that we don't always know the answer to immediately. By putting those questions up on the board, you don't forget about them before they get answered properly, as often happens when kids are asking questions while you're trying to get dinner on the table or pay bills. It's a nice message to send to kids, that their questions are important even if you can't help them answer a question right now. After the a question gets posted, someone else in the family can answer it if they know the answer already... otherwise, you can look up the answer together when you have a moment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlMmVeIFmCk84KzIpn-BgrHFcp_i_-ZDRuoBwY6zq4wPceT4FzINJLAB1aK_jS00PJXuUgnDPcmROzOEtEDIwYkB949DFlYAzZcf2LjHNY2iSXEasHdPtaPqacms1jKyjkuhyphenhyphengd7kBwU/s1600/original+wonder+board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlMmVeIFmCk84KzIpn-BgrHFcp_i_-ZDRuoBwY6zq4wPceT4FzINJLAB1aK_jS00PJXuUgnDPcmROzOEtEDIwYkB949DFlYAzZcf2LjHNY2iSXEasHdPtaPqacms1jKyjkuhyphenhyphengd7kBwU/s200/original+wonder+board.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our original "Wonder Why" Board<br /> circa 2011</td></tr>
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We created one of these boards about four years ago, when the youngest kid was about 6. We had it hanging up in our homeschool area of our kitchen, where everyone in the family could see it. We all posted questions and answered them for each other, and it was great fun. We kept it going for a couple of years, but then slowly the kids lost interest and then we renovated our kitchen and Wonder Why Board was no more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwFDyzmMMcD9i-g2vpd-XX6Y9kwLWk1Crzj-TK1bX6I7t8mwLU_zFF1WUeeV2itzGyPZsBOBbGECEk72VhWTYee2nM5jbu6R9TNUaOsUPzJMcSpL51jMXyFuCfQ3XSweYXR5EzwrLBKI/s1600/20150922_110833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwFDyzmMMcD9i-g2vpd-XX6Y9kwLWk1Crzj-TK1bX6I7t8mwLU_zFF1WUeeV2itzGyPZsBOBbGECEk72VhWTYee2nM5jbu6R9TNUaOsUPzJMcSpL51jMXyFuCfQ3XSweYXR5EzwrLBKI/s200/20150922_110833.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A question from our new Wonder Why Board</td></tr>
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But then... the other day, out of the blue, my youngest (the biggest question-asker in the family) suddenly remembered The Wonder Why board, and asked if we could bring it back. Since I get absolutely giddy when my kids show curiosity and initiative, I immediately dropped what I was doing to dig out the old magnet board and some index cards. We hung the board up in the playroom, with a basket of index cards and pens next to it, and it's been in good use this week. I hadn't realized just how much I'd missed the Wonder Why board! I'm very happy to have it back in our home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucIq2ZMy5dm4mIX5Bmeb7JceZsD0XCyTcZzAPAXDx5HaT75usgl1Zuu6zY7yJdPkJqtmLU5dLKGQW7NdGQvlM1NTHXHFnt0kUqtkCTY98hqqVvX0CqT3HziFbkP4Df5Xf9U4xpFwKWUI/s1600/20150922_110825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucIq2ZMy5dm4mIX5Bmeb7JceZsD0XCyTcZzAPAXDx5HaT75usgl1Zuu6zY7yJdPkJqtmLU5dLKGQW7NdGQvlM1NTHXHFnt0kUqtkCTY98hqqVvX0CqT3HziFbkP4Df5Xf9U4xpFwKWUI/s400/20150922_110825.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wonder Why Board is back! </td></tr>
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jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-77760285705908556952015-09-20T17:57:00.004-07:002015-09-20T17:57:59.912-07:00Not-Back-to-School, 2015!A week and a half ago we started our 2015-2016 homeschool year! It's all been a bit of a blur, and we're still figuring out our groove, but so far, so good!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwoO5S5m_6UR9CoWxpdTzbJqOTg3vpu_0rS0Ct2gtHuT3bqqYy4ksumKKShsooVuY1nubwRrrf07s-N2Vj-d5R6tuTpqpDEYCuGN6bR_VA2oh0OHS9h-aQDtl_zJPe0g3pvvALvLx7r8/s1600/2015-09-09+06.38.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwoO5S5m_6UR9CoWxpdTzbJqOTg3vpu_0rS0Ct2gtHuT3bqqYy4ksumKKShsooVuY1nubwRrrf07s-N2Vj-d5R6tuTpqpDEYCuGN6bR_VA2oh0OHS9h-aQDtl_zJPe0g3pvvALvLx7r8/s320/2015-09-09+06.38.57.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The table, all set for our Not-Back-to-School Breakfast</td></tr>
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We started our year as we always do, with a special "Not-Back-to-School" Breakfast. I really enjoy this ritual. I make something a special for breakfast (this year was waffles with apple compote!) and I give each child a small gift. As homeschoolers, we are technically always learning, but after a summer of looser schedules and fewer activities, it's nice to have a an official "start date" to get us back into a more structured frame of mind. Now that the kids are mostly teens, there is far more structure to our school year than when they were little, but that's OK, and to be expected.<br />
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We do a lot more in the way of outside classes and activities than we they were littler, and as such there is a lot less "home" in our homeschooling. This is where things get tricky for me, as I am the keeper of the schedule, and the person in charge of making sure everyone gets where they need to go when they need to get there. To make this easier on myself, I have FINALLY embraced the technology of using the calendar on my phone. Yes, I know. It took me long enough. I STILL use my big wall calendar, but the phone calendar has definitely been so helpful in managing everything. I love the alerts! (Yes, I know... most of you have been doing this for years... I'm a bit slow on tech!) Because we've had sort of a rolling start to our activities, it's given me a chance to slowly acclimate to our new routines, which has been nice. Some classes and such started the first week of September, some the second week, and now a few more things are starting up this week. It's been nice to kind of ease our way into the busy-ness of the year. By the first week of October, we'll be in full swing. I hope I'm able to keep up!<br />
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I've been working on lots of ways to try to keep things running smoothly and peacefully this schoolyear... meal planning and prep stuff, organizational things, etc. I'm hoping to share some of those things here, in the next week or so... so come back soon! ;)jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672425296465580333.post-41935857819025090202015-09-04T09:06:00.000-07:002015-09-04T09:06:52.252-07:00Reorganizing the Homeschool Area<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The last couple of weeks there have been lots of school-year preparations going on! I've been making plans, ordering supplies and books, figuring out schedules and getting our homeschool cabinet all cleaned up and reorganized for a new year of learning.<br />
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With another <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2015/07/its-boy.html" target="_blank">homeschooler on board </a>this year, we're doing a lot of shifting things around. To organize the cabinet and make everything we need to have in there fit, we needed to pretty much do a complete revamp. I pulled everything out of the cabinet, eliminated things we no longer needed, then put back all the things we still need, along with our new supplies for this year. It feels good to have a fresh, clean start!<br />
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Here's what our homeschool cabinet looks like this year:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEhRhAvkAbEywmEzOxJIae2UkuFYVcb2oS1K1dZV8QvevVoWOH8Shlwh21OeP9Xq99ce-1V2Mk9HLWy2pVYyRCT5gs7sQx31bh068Q1Y1DEND9LiR4iQhaDBHPpumXYewlgai0WbmBvo/s1600/2015-08-29+13.48.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEhRhAvkAbEywmEzOxJIae2UkuFYVcb2oS1K1dZV8QvevVoWOH8Shlwh21OeP9Xq99ce-1V2Mk9HLWy2pVYyRCT5gs7sQx31bh068Q1Y1DEND9LiR4iQhaDBHPpumXYewlgai0WbmBvo/s400/2015-08-29+13.48.33.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Homeschool Cabinet, in the corner of our kitchen.<br />
The cabinets themselves are from Ikea's "Billy" bookcase collection.<br />
To the left of this is our <a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2013/09/home-command-center.html" target="_blank">Command Center Wall</a>, which is <br />
also a pretty important part of our homeschool area. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBifd9FjH4fuDEFErPGNQlDHQrrLLVd4_nubaVekrk0oENz20ulg8iIpWRAvUE0JpTzYW1I4IKtYzCgCxPiEPbiC5qJ_A77OX1zL_TzAiOXc0MSVBdH0gyiEh9qbrvZvUUK4z4_SSya4M/s1600/2015-08-25+06.47.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBifd9FjH4fuDEFErPGNQlDHQrrLLVd4_nubaVekrk0oENz20ulg8iIpWRAvUE0JpTzYW1I4IKtYzCgCxPiEPbiC5qJ_A77OX1zL_TzAiOXc0MSVBdH0gyiEh9qbrvZvUUK4z4_SSya4M/s400/2015-08-25+06.47.42.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top two shelves in the far left cabinet are for my "teaching"<br />
supplies... books, my binder, paper clips, tacks, stickers, sharpies, <br />
highlighter, etc. And a little crocheted rag doll my darling daughter<br />
made for me, which I love. The next shelf has pens, pencils, rulers, <br />
protractors, erasers and a pencil sharpener. The closed storage beneath<br />
holds science stuff: books, microscope, various lab stuff. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTlPk39uhg2tNT5IFelAUFCz72OCRJGP8w7Do2yT3dTaYVwJrB_iMScY5kDiU69Z-fFFJxsNXXPXaogCN4FFLdN_uJVAmZAvjzvZpCVGC_0dMvdrXTpA212e7YX8RMBibk0EHk5xwkcs/s1600/2015-08-25+06.47.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTlPk39uhg2tNT5IFelAUFCz72OCRJGP8w7Do2yT3dTaYVwJrB_iMScY5kDiU69Z-fFFJxsNXXPXaogCN4FFLdN_uJVAmZAvjzvZpCVGC_0dMvdrXTpA212e7YX8RMBibk0EHk5xwkcs/s400/2015-08-25+06.47.56.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The next section... we have a 3D cricket puzzle, a box of math<br />
manipulatives and a bunch of assorted math books tucked into<br />
magazine files. Below the math stuff, we have our Nature Shelf.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4ji9pZyw_t1qWyF1lhFaC7JOZ-GvRnAKkf1EoVB9RDbik4jN9Dq8hbNNlpkk9E8xEU-STlAunnrW6VYpumh0OCkDPpSb1q6aNZSIXK8L1iQAOhHmIzxz4G7O6aE-nEJ0MRwcv72wck4/s1600/2015-08-25+06.48.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4ji9pZyw_t1qWyF1lhFaC7JOZ-GvRnAKkf1EoVB9RDbik4jN9Dq8hbNNlpkk9E8xEU-STlAunnrW6VYpumh0OCkDPpSb1q6aNZSIXK8L1iQAOhHmIzxz4G7O6aE-nEJ0MRwcv72wck4/s400/2015-08-25+06.48.11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A closer look at our nature shelf, still filled with Summer Treasures... black-eyed<br />
susans and mint from the garden, a chunk of wasp nest, a cool stick, a hawk feather,<br />
some beach rocks and some sea shells from our visits to the beach. Soon we'll be<br />
replacing the summer stuff with things we find out and about on our fall adventures.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv8kDRH_pWtKamjCt6kCPChjL9ZGdiMH73MPCuFfaQL_ZOW87qhyI2mmy9iYhgxRWDXtLc6UCzSxW1Dc4sRTQGlrwRzw2UdFzp7gLBBagKWlqvRkImQdtPwCdKFYb61yosKJIG1jCyzk/s1600/2015-09-04+11.52.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv8kDRH_pWtKamjCt6kCPChjL9ZGdiMH73MPCuFfaQL_ZOW87qhyI2mmy9iYhgxRWDXtLc6UCzSxW1Dc4sRTQGlrwRzw2UdFzp7gLBBagKWlqvRkImQdtPwCdKFYb61yosKJIG1jCyzk/s400/2015-09-04+11.52.08.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cabinet beneath the Nature Shelf contains the kids'<br />laptop and computer accessories, and space for each child's<br />individual books, notebooks and daily work. The two younger<br />boys have their daily work in tote bags... the two older kids<br />mostly do outside classes, so they just have their stuff on the shelf,<br />and take whatever they need with them for their classes. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUo_N7h7mMze6tB7GAceTN14Jj4J31Lm1Va3Z3TB5DVUUNgE54Z0p8kC4POIZAoceieBZ3DVs-kDh_dLpXvIifXuAkbhlOu0ArYkay9_kiMkTjIyXE5glijHQchskrjh0dQFsZaMu2xM/s1600/2015-08-25+06.48.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUo_N7h7mMze6tB7GAceTN14Jj4J31Lm1Va3Z3TB5DVUUNgE54Z0p8kC4POIZAoceieBZ3DVs-kDh_dLpXvIifXuAkbhlOu0ArYkay9_kiMkTjIyXE5glijHQchskrjh0dQFsZaMu2xM/s400/2015-08-25+06.48.29.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tower in the corner has assorted reference books, and<br />
some boxes containing word games and maps. In the jars, we<br />
have some writing prompts, in case anyone needs inspiration.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMJDVtbc4hijgXoJKUZYnOW6KGvgdL9gAw89Mtqh25-cI57man8vIKndXBu0zxGMdR7b8NfFYm5bTd98ic1P5kXq4wcGtSRLJzcRKmnKLiuYQ8HNVmdd80HAIKh59Gy_zD_VnOYUOD40/s1600/2015-08-29+14.04.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMJDVtbc4hijgXoJKUZYnOW6KGvgdL9gAw89Mtqh25-cI57man8vIKndXBu0zxGMdR7b8NfFYm5bTd98ic1P5kXq4wcGtSRLJzcRKmnKLiuYQ8HNVmdd80HAIKh59Gy_zD_VnOYUOD40/s400/2015-08-29+14.04.26.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the next cabinet, we have back-up supplies (extra paper, notebooks, pens, etc)<br />
in the boxes on the top shelf, and other small supplies in the baskets below.<br />
Under that we have a map and a globe, and assorted paper. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkegYnlNpCO_a_zdqgzoCwkfnv_LWwHKFKIMaqb_9sMmGHSQT9m_RyNuqcsgywXlhB0rKai7U07VumjmuybZB83ShMQ5UEB5A85zdyi5WS4U7i3_qwIMhH5BVi1yPNURi8APyhhLNK4U/s1600/2015-08-29+14.04.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkegYnlNpCO_a_zdqgzoCwkfnv_LWwHKFKIMaqb_9sMmGHSQT9m_RyNuqcsgywXlhB0rKai7U07VumjmuybZB83ShMQ5UEB5A85zdyi5WS4U7i3_qwIMhH5BVi1yPNURi8APyhhLNK4U/s400/2015-08-29+14.04.36.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm planning to put cute little tags on the baskets to label them, but at the<br />
moment they are labeled with post-its stuck to the back of the shelf. My youngest<br />
says he actually likes them labeled this way, so maybe it will stay like this.<br />
In the closed storage below, we have Noodle's extensive collection of car magazines<br />
(which aren't really school-related, but it's the only place in the<br />
house where I can keep them tidied up, out of sight!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KLBMxgPqjb-nxWEHwTMPPo8377z8B3O1pEw8xRWkxYVLGgjF6x35n1B0CqN78OXzOXXSCV38b7hWm-FEgefQfVD0PKALsHzoo6a-xOMgaoSxyaYSCq-UZKnwh1TZHJIdvPjEobjAQ4E/s1600/2015-08-29+13.48.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KLBMxgPqjb-nxWEHwTMPPo8377z8B3O1pEw8xRWkxYVLGgjF6x35n1B0CqN78OXzOXXSCV38b7hWm-FEgefQfVD0PKALsHzoo6a-xOMgaoSxyaYSCq-UZKnwh1TZHJIdvPjEobjAQ4E/s400/2015-08-29+13.48.33.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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So that's it! Our homeschool corner for the 2015-2016 school year! Our official "first day of (not)school" is this coming Wednesday! We're looking forward to another year of living and learning together, and sharing many grand adventures. </div>
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PS... If you're interested in seeing previous posts about our homeschool area, you can find them below:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2013/09/new-homeschool-area-last-post-i-gave.html" target="_blank">2013 homeschool area post</a><br />
<a href="http://journeytowardsimplicity.blogspot.com/2014/09/preparing-for-not-back-to-school.html" target="_blank">2014 homeschool area post</a><br />
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<br />jenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07384458928425857717noreply@blogger.com0