This sweet little project combines knitting and sewing, and makes a lovely seasonal gift. Or simply make one for yourself and bring a touch of autumn color to your handwork.  Materials DK Merino yarn, I have used a naturally dyed yarn that has been dyed with Peach Bracket Mushrooms. 4mm straight knitting needles Wool sewing  read more …

Autumn is a perfect time for reading by an outdoor fire, or snuggling up under the covers. The following is a collection of some of our favorite books to read with your children in this beautiful season. :::::::::::: The Winding Road: Family Treasury of Poems and Verses Compiled by Matthew Barton Mother Earth and Her Children:  read more …

There’s a bit of crispness in the air these days, even when the warmth of summer is still hanging about. Plants all rush to finish their growing season, offering a multitude of food and medicine for us. Now’s the time to harvest and put away medicines for winter use. Elderberries are ripe and dripping from  read more …

Inspired by the wonderful series of books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, I decided to design a lace shawl for our daughter, who recently started reading the books on her own. This surprisingly simple shawl is knit from the hem up, using very basic lace and shaping techniques. It makes for a great first lace  read more …

“Well there’s a root cellar, a fruit cellar down below. Watch your head now, and down we go. What with the snow, and the economy and everything, I think I’ll just stay down here and eat until spring.” ~ From “Canned Goods” by Greg Brown There’s something supremely satisfying about reaching into your freezer or pantry on  read more …

As the nights start to draw longer and the languid, carefree days of summer start to fade away, there’s one thing that gives me solace. Baking season is only just beginning! And what better way to welcome the cooler months than playing around with a batch of cookie dough and getting your oven fired up  read more …

When my husband, Pablo, and I decided to start a family we knew there would be activities and hobbies that we would have to put on hold for awhile, but I think we both underestimated how much our lives would change. My pregnant daydreams were of a free-wheeling life with the slight modification of a  read more …

I was raised by a mom (who was raised by her own sugar-wary mom) that ranked sugar in the same category as swearing or gossip. That is to say, once in a while, a pinch of it thrown into the mix might not hurt. Heck, it might even liven things up a little, but it  read more …

Very often, my younger kids tell me that their tummy aches when there is something they can’t manage or which they feel sad about. My teenager daughter experiences painful cramps every month, and I suffer from headaches occasionally because of tension in my neck and back. Sometimes, that’s just the way it is. We find  read more …

  When I had my my first son seven years ago I bought everything brand new for him.  Brand new bedding, bibs, diapers, booties, clothes, etc.  Everything was crisp and clean and fresh out of a package from a store.  Thinking back, it is overwhelming just how much money I spent.  Over the years though,  read more …

As it often happens in families, my eldest daughter has a passion for romance that she did not inherit from me. While my approach to dressing myself and my home is first and foremost about comfort and practicality, she is drawn to ruffles and flounces. And so when she asked to set the table with  read more …

With autumn comes thoughts of Thanksgiving. In our home we strive to separate seasons and make them special to the children. What better way than a banner to celebrate Thanksgiving with Gratitude. The kids love to be involved, and more importantly I love the memories in our creations that will stand for years to follow.  read more …

As summer fades and the crispness of fall fills the air, my family and I get ready to tuck our gardens in for a long winter’s nap. It is an exciting time for sure.  It becomes a family affair, with our boy and his cousin helping to get the soil turned and the beds ready  read more …