Preparation

 We've been spending a lot of time at the farm lately...preparing a garden plot, repairing fences, fixing up and cleaning out the barn, roaming the fields, drinking coffee and cooking warm hearty soups.


 


Some say it's a bit early to be preparing the garden plot, but in actuality, it isn't at all. There is much to be done. The soil hasn't been worked in quite some time, so we've decided to get a head start. Jordan got the tiller started and has been tilling the ground while his friend and I have been collecting manure to add to it.




 
The beginnings of the plot (early morning) facing east.




 


S is always following dad around the farm. He loves to be right up in everything, dad's number one helper.  So this is my view during the day...






 


When it is time for nap, I put him in the baby carrier and roam the fields. This helps to mentally unwind by listening to the wind and feeling the rhythm of my walk. He's asleep in no time.


 


My plan for this blog is to document the progress of this little homestead. If I make time, I want to track when I sow and harvest, weed and fertilize, can and freeze, along with other family happenings. I can not wait!

Broccoli seeds are going to be started indoors in a few days and transplanted at the end of March. This is my first time, so wish me luck!

Resolutions

I know, this post is so 5 minutes ago. That's me for ya, a few steps behind everyone else.

I am not usually one to make resolutions for the new year, but this year is different. I am finding myself more in-tune and with that I need to make a few changes. Some, more serious than others. Here are the things I couldn't help but focus on.

1.  Wear more long skirts. I just feel good in them.

2. Complete a large home improvement goal that I set for each month.

    -January, paint the kitchen - doors, trim, walls and cabinets
    -February, get rid of old basement windows and install glass block windows
    -March, put up privacy fence on the poodle side of the yard (they are terribly vicious toward S and our chickens sneak under existing fence)
    - The rest are yet to be made

3. Reduce screen time dramatically. Several months ago we moved our only T.V. down stairs to Jordan's man room. Now it is time to eliminate computer time when S is awake. I feel he gets anxious if I am on my computer and that makes me feel terrible. Plus, he will only be little once. The computer will always be there, but my baby will not. It's time to recognize. So far, so good.

If I think of anymore, I will be sure to add them.

Routine at Last!

Since S was born I have been struggling to come up with a solid night time routine. I would come up with something that I thought would work, then something else would get in my way or I wouldn't have the patience to follow through until he was all the way asleep. Well, I am saying good-bye to those days. I have found something that works and I am sticking to it.

It all begins with one nap a day. If he takes two naps it's game over, up until 10 p.m.

Around 4:30 S will start getting hungry for dinner so I get him set up in his highchair and make sure he eats enough to get him nice and full, he will not fall asleep if he is even a tad hungry. After dinner we head straight to the bathtub where we will splash around in the water to get our giggles out. S will stand and play with the faucet, then plop down to make a big splash - repeat that about 10 to 15 times :)

When bath time is over I snuggle him up in a big cozy towel and bring him into his room to sing our jammie song, by this time you can tell he's getting pretty tired, big yawns. We get on his jammies and get settled in the rocker to read Good Night Moon, this never changes, we read the same book every night. As he gets older I will make up my own stories, but for now, this consistency is key.

After the book, we rock and nurse. While he is nursing, I sing Home On The Range. Yes, Home On The Range :) it works. Soon after, it's all zzzzzz's. I bask in the moment for awhile then move him to our room to lay him in our bed where my husband and I will join him hours later.

I am jumping for joy over here! The lack of routine has been eating away at me. Consistency is what I have been yearning for and I've finally caught it. I am one happy mama. (By the way, S said Mama for the first time this past Saturday!!)

Natural Cough & Cold Remedy

It's that time of the year again, kids are back in school. That means germs are flowing and you and your little one might get sick. I don't know about you, but I am not a big fan of taking unnatural medicines or giving them to my child. Although they provide relief, they can also be harmful to your body. Luckily, we have sweet Mother Earth to rely on.

Here is a simple, safe and totally affordable natural remedy that you can use on your whole family. Most people have the herb right in their own home! Thyme. This infusion is fool proof!



(Note: children, babies and adults all take a different dosage. See list below. Do not give to babies under 6 months of age without professional advice)

Directions:

Simply steep 2 level teaspoons of dry thyme in 1 cup of boiling water (one teaspoon if you are using fresh thyme)

cover for 5 - 10 minutes

Strain and let cool

Dosages:

Standard: take 1 cup 3-4 times a day

6 - 12 months: take 1/3 cup a day

1 - 6 years old: take 1 - 2 cups a day 

7 - 13 years old: take 2 1/2 - 3 cups a day


 I don't have a fancy tea pot, I just dump my herb into a jar and pour the boiling water on top. I cover the jar with a towel and strain with a regular mesh strainer when it is done.

 

This infusion can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. It's not that long, but that's okay because it's simple enough to make it as you need it.

I hope you try this out! Let me know if you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them!

All of my information came from the book Natural Health Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Andrew Chevallier

Little Waldorf Baby

School. In my city there are a few options. You have your good ole Catholic schools, the type of school I attended all of my school years, the not so good city public school, the Language Immersion School (which is pretty awesome, in my opinion), charter schools and our local Waldorf school.



I have always gravitated toward the idea of sending S. to a Waldorf school. It is everything I have ever wanted for my son, education for his whole self, his heart, hands and head, all while being surrounded by a very diverse group of individuals.

 

The other day I was talking with a friend and she mentioned this 12 week Parent Infant class that the Waldorf school holds and my ears immediately perked up. It is a class where parents learn games and songs to play with their babies while also learning to develop our ability to quietly observe and interpret children’s movements, gestures, and vocalizations. I told her I was totally interested and that I would love for her to send me the information.

 

The lady in charge contacted me right away. It turned out that there was only one spot left. She told me that if we were interested, she could hold it for us until we got our registration and payment in. I looked over the info and found out that it is actually super affordable, so of course I said yes!

 

I am so happy that everything worked out in our favor. I am super eager to learn new things with S. and make new friends together. This is going to be an amazing opportunity that I have only dreamed about....it's actually becoming a reality!! Class starts August 28th! I will be sure to post about it =)     

Sunday Moment

Good Morning :)

this kid is awesome

It still amazes me that I helped create an individual, a soul. I pushed a mind out of my body. Woah. I gave life to a person who will grow up and be a citizen in our world.

 

As S is getting bigger, I am becoming more aware of the individual he is. I could just sit here and observe him all day. He is becoming more and more interesting every single day. Tomorrow he will be 10 months old! Wait, what? 10 months old????

He crawls, laughs, yells, babbles, loves to eat (especially blueberries, whole blueberries!) and totally enjoys hanging out with other kids. He listens, observes, plays, climbs and pulls himself up to stand. He thinks dogs are hilarious and he chases his chickens. This kid is awesome.

Man, I love this life!