Attempting Minimalism

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Countryside Week 2

We added 2 more children this week (siblings!) & made some yummy applesauce from organic golden delicious apples we picked the day before :0) HB & I are having a ton of fun & have so many more fun things planned!

Lots of outdoor time!

some tea?

Using REAL knives to cut up apples for our homemade applesauce...everyone went home w/ all their fingers, don't worry ;0)

Great helpers!

It was Jam's first day - he did pretty well & was SO tired afterwards

A bit of sensory tub fun...but this is waaaay too small! Will need to do something bigger before we bring this back!

So funny - a big table right behind them, empty, and they all want to use the shelf for writing?

Here we are, getting ready for lunch

I think we need to add another leaf to the table! It is delightfully full :0)

Our cooked apples, ready to be pulverized into applesauce

If you want to see more, you can also follow http://countrysideplayschool.blogspot.com/

Saturday, October 5, 2013

A Waldork Jedi Knight, "make me in wool - you will", my new baby brother, & midwifery

'Adopted' son "Charlie" had a dress up day at his school....and needed some sewing help....Honey Bunches to the rescue! Working long into the night, they made him - a Knight!

Jedi Master Charlie

Ha! I just noticed that HB has a yoda shirt on! Check out the henna on HB & Tweeters, too. And did I mention that little Tweeters can ride that bike like a pro??! Getting so big!

On a related note, I've started on a wool Yoda for Flash...no, not done yet...but here's a pic I'm using to make him: http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Me-in-Wool-You-Will/

Yep, my baby brother. He looks just like me :0) I still haven't met him!!

Ok, so not a lot about midwifery here, but HB has started studying in preparation for midwifery training. More to come in New Zealand this winter & possibly Michigan next summer? I think she was inspired when her two youngest siblings were born at home w/ a midwife :0)

Feast of Tabernacles campout

Our bible study group gathered recently to observe the Feast of Tabernacles...no, we're not Jewish or even Mesianic, although we do try to observe or at the very least learn more about the feasts Christ also observed. This year Bro. R bought a Tabernacle kit to assemble, which was really very cool! His daughters even taught us a traditional dance - can't wait to try that again soon :0)

A 'traditional' tabernacle foreground, with our modern ones behind! Some camped overnight for a real experience...even though we DO have a nice nearby building with bathrooms & kitchen.

some horseshoes

Ok, yeah there was some airsoft war going on, too with the other Mr. A & Mr. D

and henna telling biblical stories for Sister J

and a baldy head henna of YHWH

I am frightened! No really, Mr. T a big teddy bear ;0)

Yeah, Mr. A wanted a platypus henna. Very unprofessional!!

Oh, right, and we learned about the lulov & the etrog....

HB doing a bible story in henna on one of our bible study friends, Mrs. T

the path toward sin on the wrist, the swirl w/ spikes are the whips for the crucifiction, then forgiveness of sins. The sunburst on the palm is resurection. Flowers on finger & wrist represent life. 2 weeks ago she & her pastor's wife traveled about 2 hours away to a church to tell them about Mrs. D's friend who does this in mostly Muslim or Hindu countries as a missionary. Hopefully they will be able to present to our homeschool group soon!

Sister A had the most complicated one! It's the story of creation - bottom is creatures of the sea (see the fish?), then animals of the earth above that, Adam & Eve are the 2 leaf shapes w/ hearts in the middle. The flower represents life, and the vines represent the plants of the earth, and stars on the fingers are the heavens. Henna comes out black like mud, then when it dries & you flake it off it looks a bit orange. By the next day it is usually dark brown, but everyone's skin is a bit different!

We came back to our house after camping to watch "Ishpizin", and Flash & Mr. A had to show their manliness.....I must say, Flash won!

If you would like to learn more about the biblical holy days, see http://heartofwisdom.com/biblicalholidays/

Zoo & welcoming Flash back home from Oregon!

Flash had a big trip to Oregon & back - yes - he did make it back ;0) He took a Greyhound bus up to St. Louis from Paduca,where our friends live (that he went with) so we wouldn't have to drive down there to pick him up. The littles have never been to the zoo before, so it was a perfect opportunity...and Gma & Gpa L met us there!

The big reunion, right there in the middle of the zoo! Gma & Gpa picked him up at the station since we were running late, and met us....it was SO good to see our big guy!!