Numero 3

Littlest baby Grim was born on Monday morning. She's a girl--despite all the predictions based on the way I carried So, we're more like the Ingalls than ever! And 'Pa' seems just fine with that ;)

Birth Time: Monday, May 23 at 9:42am

Name: Eliza Liri  Eliza means "Pledged to God" & Liri "Music"

Weight: 8 lbs 7oz

Height: 21 inches

While her birth was far from the simple, quick and nearly easy birth of Leviah, it is done and we were at home and safe and all is well. I am so thankful for my midwife, she's a blessing in our lives for more reasons than her expansive knowledge of birthing babies. Things could have been much worse had we not had her help!

We may be a little slow on posting for the next few weeks. My eyes are a bit droopy and it's hard to focus on a computer screen...but, we're up and at 'em. Funny how much faster you have to recover and can, when there are other little ones anxious to play...

{this moment} - midwife in training

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. See Soulemama to play along.

The Final Countdown: Expiration Date Approaches

You may have heard. I'm pregnant. REALLY pregnant. 39 weeks and counting.

In these final hours I've decided to start a mission, a mission to eradicate due dates. The fact is due dates are like expiration dates--some folks adhere to them as mere suggestions, others toss the milk the day after; a due date can drive a woman mad.

Well, babies don't expire in the womb, they are not canned goods or sour cream...and though some of us think we can ignore a due date's passing and patiently wait for the baby's real birthday, it's impossible to ignore completely.

But, I will say, with some concerted effort I have managed to forget what that day might be for this particular pregnancy. What a relief! Now, the simple answer to those 'when are you due' questions that come whenever I poke my head out a window: 'I'm 39 weeks--whatever that means!' Many are not satisfied, but it is not my goal to please the masses ;)

This little revelation as to due dates and their obvious connection to expiration dates has dawned on me the closer we get to the end. I don't know when this baby is coming--no one does, and having that number out of my head completely makes it easier to wait. I highly recommend it!

Over All the Garden

note the happy garden cat.

We stopped by the Farmer's market this evening and it was packed full--but almost no produce. Several hot-house tomatoes, but there were plants EVERYWHERE! We should have known, as this is the story 'round our place. There's lots of new excitement though, from potatoes to pears to pollinator attracting wildflowers.

my favorite little walkway. lemon balm and mint flourish on the left.

Between the greenhouse and our efforts to really make the most of the small space we've got, our urban oasis is becoming more abundant! Here is a virtual tour (via simple photos, no video this time). Drew took them all, I just brightened them and cropped. I love the close-ups.

And as usual, we'd love for you to comment your progress, or link to it on your own blog!

 Nasturtium (edible) Bee's Friend--for the bees.

tomatoes are coming!

our boomin' 'gutters'

the peas

 

broccoli and our potato patch. off the left behind the chicken tractor is a new bed of sweet potatoes--we've never grown those before. Any pointers?

after 5 years of trying, maybe we'll actually get some blueberries this year!

 

raspberries

 

and though it seems odd, our Meyer lemon trees are FULL of blooms. We've had these for 3 years and never seen blooms, so, though it seems off season we're hopeful! Homemade Lemon Curd recipes?

Homeschooling Together

One major thing I've learned about homeschooling this--our first real--year of doing it, is that support is essential.  There's more support now than there ever has been, it's abundant on the internet, in the library and fewer and fewer folks look at us cross-eyed when we answer the question, "where do you go to school?"

even the youngest take a lot from it. It's a very one-room-schoolhouse experience.

Most of the naysayers on homeschooling have an opinion about socialization, which probably would have bothered me about homeschool kids when I was in 'normal' school. They always seemed a little quirky, a bit odd, a little un-the-same. That is something I've come to cherish about the whole experience. I don't have to expect my daughter to run home begging for the latest Disney channel craze covered apparel, and sometimes I have to remind her that not EVERYONE her age is familiar with Laura Ingalls...

This year we have been fortunate to participate in a Charlotte Mason group that meets about every 2 weeks. It's been a great resource to encourage the kids in studiousness, and an outlet for Naomi to see that homeschooling isn't so abnormal.

Here is a break down of the term that ended Monday:
Every semester we have a theme, for the past 10weeks or so it was farm animals. Each week we studied one animal, one of Grandma Moses' paintings, the folk song This Land is Your Land, one composition by Aaron Copland, the notion of self-control, and each child recited a poem at each meeting. There were field trips to meet animals first hand, nature studies to learn more about them, games, poetry, and overall a lot of good learning by kids and parents.

following directions--part of the Self-Control exploration. --it's been GREAT having this term defined for Naomi. 

 some of the chicken studies

 

Naomi reciting her poem (although, it's better if they can have it memorized)

 

studying July Fourth by Grandma Moses

(sorry about the not-so-hot pics. the iPod just doesn't work as well as my normal camera!)

On Mother's Day

What a terrific day! Naomi was so excited about it going to bed last night she could hardly sleep--nice to know she enjoys pampering me...

She made me a lovely card in which Drew helped her list all the ways she knows I love her. I had to hold back a few tears. The girls gave me presents. The Sound of Music on Blu-Ray (cause while we don't have cable, we do have a pimped out movie watching set-up).

And one amazing necklace they picked up at the Indie Market on Friday. 

Then, Drew worked on painting our hallway because it is out of control with fingerprints and grime. It's a brighter color that should make the trip down the hallway a little cheerier ;)

Plus, we got to meet up with my family for some ice cream in the country to top it all off; the cousins enjoyed each other with chasing and climbing on haystacks on an marvelous night.

The Beekeeper's Daughter

Naomi often accompanies Drew out to check the hives. The other day they came home with some 'school' work; more like 'fascinating natural observation material'--or f'nom for short ;)

Anyway, Drew thought to grab some comb with drone larvae in it and they sat at the table and analyzed them together, it was very sweet and Naomi was enthralled.

Then, we pulled out this great book. We love this book, the images and information can't be beat! It really helps clarify the inner workings of the hive in a way that kids can understand.

We love impromptu learning...

Other great nature kid books we've noticed lately:

• Where Do Chicks Come From?
• The Umbrella
• The Wheat Doll(this one is just a sweet story with a hint of the natural).
• Smudge, the Little Lost Lamb

What's on your summer reading list?

*side note: the links should send you to Better World Books--a company I think has a good thing going, not to mention, great prices! just so you know...

Share Your Garden Post Sunday

When your seedlings fail there is an air of disappointment that makes you feel like giving up, forgetting about this season's garden and moving onto a different passion. Usually, you eventually give into the irresistible seedlings available at local farmer's markets or hardware stores because nothing beats vine-ripened tomatoes. Well, that has been our experience in all the years past.

Not so this year. This year we tell a different tale, and the possibilities are unveiling themselves daily! For example, because we've had such success with our new seed-starting methods (i.e. the grow light adjustments and sweet greenhouse blessing), we have broadened our own horizons. So far, all the seeds we've planted have thrived and it's thrilling! Just goes to show that good things come to those who are persistent (keep in mind we have been doing this seed-thing for over 6 years).

Today's new venture? Well, upon recent cleaning of the fridge we discovered a bag of medicinal herbal seeds that we purchased and used about 5 years ago. Now, we knew they were kicking around in there, but we didn't have a lot of success with them during the first trial, so they'd been neglected. Some Chamomile, Valerian, Feverfew and Milk Thistle--some of which still litters our yard. But, we're thinking with the aid of the greenhouse we may have some actual herb activity! We'll keep you posted, their age may prove a detriment...

Here's what we're hoping will sprout:

• Valerian
• Feverfew
• Burdock
• St. Johnswort
• Astragalus
• German Chamomile
• Milk Thistle
• Echinacea
• Cayenne

What have you planted recently? Please add a link to your recent garden-related post!