Home. What a big word.
Home is . . .
where I reside
the body I wear
the spouse I adore
my family of love
the animals I adopt
the nature that surrounds me
the future I hope for
my faith that centers me
friends who nuture me
fellow writers who encourage me
the city of my residence
the state and country of my belonging
the planet I inhabit
Home is a big word.
What does home mean to you?
The Curious Nature Guide, Explore the Natural Wonders All Around You
Written and illustrated by Clare Walker Leslie
(Storey Publishing, 2015)
I first noticed the cover of this book while on vacation with some girlfriends in Coupeville, Washington. Hidden amidst a crowded display of books, toys, and souvenirs, the cover popped out and caught my attention. I wanted that book. But I resisted.
Fast forward to post-Christmas gift card shopping. As I perused my local Indie bookstore, Inklings, guess which book again popped out and grabbed my attention? Yes. The same book. And it was on a display of favs and book suggestions by staff.
I did not resist.
The Curious Nature Guide is a beautifully illustrated guide book written for children, teens, families, and others who love exploring the outdoors. I fell in love with this colorful edition.
I enjoyed this book so much, I used it as a reward. At the end of the day I would carefully read each page and inhale every photo, drawing, and illustration. Reading this book was almost as good as being outside.
While vocabulary will be difficult for young readers, they will love hearing it read aloud. The Curious Nature Guide contains nature information, suggestions of things to look for and do, maps, charts, plant labels, and more.
NO. It is not overwhelmingly encyclopedic.
The Curious Nature Guide is a nature journal filled with inspiration of both the exploring type and the creative sort. I want to go out and investigate the outdoors AND sit down with my art supplies and recreate what I find AND grab the camera to capture my nature.
Two thumbs up for The Curious Nature Guide, Explore the Nature Wonders All Around You.
Happy exploring!
I’d love to hear what nature exploring you like to do.
GIGANTOR
if there is a chair
find it and recline therein
size does not matter
CREAK. GROAN. WOBBLE.
What is your favorite chair?
Share a photo in the comment section.
Does it fit you well, or are you like Gigantor and size is not an issue,
just comfort?
I’m not above totally enjoying digging through a bag of my sister’s hand-me-downs to pull out new-to-me favorites.
(That would be a literal hand-me-down, as I am older but much shorter than she.)
I also thrill to the seek-and-find treasures I discover at local thrift shops. In fact, the sweater (Mr. Roger’s style cardigan, come in the house-trade the coat for a sweater style) I wear all the time is my best ever purchase from Goodwill.
Seriously. I think my family may be a tad bit exhausted of seeing me wear the same old sweater. Every. Single. Day.
But it is the best sweater! I know I look more granny-like wearing it, but it is comfy, broken in, not too hot, not too cold, but just right.
I’ve had this sweater for over 5 years, conservative estimate. It appears to be well made and may last for another 15. Score! I think I paid $1.99, maybe $2.99.
My husband and I enjoy keeping clothes long past the expiration date (yes, we are THAT couple). One of our favorite games is counting back to find out who is wearing the oldest outfit.
“I’ve had this shirt since Chelsie was 3,” I said.
“Well, I bought these sweats when we were in England,” replies the hubby.
“But I had this dress for Easter when we were in Wapato,” I counter.
And on and on goes the battle.
It is our game. And our life. We are not ones for top of the line, current fashion, get rid of the old and buy new all the time. Some of you may be saying, quietly in your heads, “YES, we know! Go get some new clothes!!!” Maybe you are even yelling that, hoping we will hear.
It’s OK. We are happy with our little game. I think, at heart, we are children of the depression, though we are not really old enough. We use every little thing until it is beyond use. And then maybe we can still find a use for the scraps that remain.
I’m thinking that’s being a good steward of natural resources and God’s providence. Recyling, repurposing, reusing.
Besides, it’s fun.
I’d love to hear where you find your favorite clothes. Are you a scavenger like me? Let’s share tips.
Source: Vitamin and Mineral of the Week – Recipe – Stuffed Green Peppers by Angie Quantrell
Thanks, Sally! I love this recipe!
I’m too big
to sit on a tiny bristle block chair
to sleep on a little bristle block bed
to kiss ducky good-night
I’m too big.
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The bed and the duckies |
2’s do have an idea of how big they are, and it’s fun watching them figure it out to be certain.
What am I too big for?
Nothing, I hope. Living as a child-at-heart is so much better than an old fuddy duddy.
What are you too big for?
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The chair |
Source: United Kingdom Afternoon tea…
I love afternoon tea! One of the fanciest places I’ve enjoyed high tea with friends is in Seattle, WA, at the Queen Mary Tea Room. I wish afternoon tea would take off here!
Source: Friends forever
Girls, you have to read this!
Yes. It’s true. We are a family of Mr. Rogers’ mini-me’s.
I just caught myself making the correlation between one of his daily rituals and a habit of ours.
As soon as we enter our home (sooner for my husband), we remove our outside shoes and don slippers. Coats come off and I add a sweater to keep me cozy, as our indoor temperatures never get above 66 in the winter.
This process is reversed as we prepare to leave. Away go the slippers and on go the outside shoes. My sweater is tucked away and a jacket or coat is worn to protect me from the elements.
Do you remember what Mr. Rogers did each time he came inside at the beginning of his show and and reversed at the end of the show?
Mr. Rogers removed his outside shoes and replaced them with indoor shoes. He also took off his outdoor jacket and put on an indoor cardigan, all the while singing about the beauty of the day in the neighborhood. Yes. That song.
Mr. Rogers was so organized. He didn’t just toss those shoes and jacket on a couch or floor. He tucked away the shoes and carefully placed the jacket on a sweater in the closet. I may occasionally toss my sweater on the washer, but I also have a designated cupboard right by the door for jackets, and shoe racks for both of us.
You have no idea how many times I compare myself to Mr. Rogers when I change gear as I am going out or coming back inside the house. I think his habits were ingrained in my subconcious as I watched his television show. Maybe that was one of his purposes, to model tidiness, organization, and care for our belongings.
And this is a good thing. We are a shoes-off household. Not only does this habit keep icky germs and gunk on shoe bottoms out of the house, it also provides a cleaner environment for my babies to crawl around on and plenty of (mostly) dirt-free floor space for playtime. Mr. Rogers’ transfer of clothes and shoes fits perfectly with our efforts to keep as much of the outdoors, well, outdoors.
That Mr. Rogers was ahead of his time, yet many considered him a fuddy-duddy. I disagree. He was a great role model.
Sitting here in my cardigan sweater and indoor slippers, just humming a certain melody.
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, isn’t it?
Source: Some Humor for your Saturday!
Descriptions of a book to the younger generation.
Love, Laughter, and Life 