1 October

Some Monday musings with totally unrelated photos from our trip to the beach 2 weeks ago. 

1. I think this photo totally sums up the people in my household right now. All that's missing are the dogs cavorting around the children. 

2. I'm struggling with balance and productivity right now. I'm working 25 hours a week, but I'm still pretty sure I can accomplish everything else I want to do. This is probably crazy. So, each day this month I'm going to sit down here at ye olde blog and document the prior day. I think this will both help me see that I *do* get a lot done and clarify where I need to be spending more and/or less time. As a side benefit, you will get to watch me slowly realize that I have unreasonable expectations of myself. And you will probably not be surprised by that at all. 

3. We made freegan grape juice yesterday. This involved dragging a grumpy 14 year old to a friends house to pick grapes (it was super awesome of her to offer them to us) on Saturday morning, borrowing her fancy 3 stage juicing pot, riding our bikes to the neighborhood hardware store for more jars (and strapping said jars onto the back deck of my bike. Very Portland), assuring ourselves that it wouldn't take that long, and then spending all day yesterday making about 18 quarts of juice. Which is amazing, btw. Props to Jeff for taking over the bulk of the process while I escaped the children ran to the Hanna Andersson outlet for winter jammies. He is the juice master. Also, we are going to hide all the jars of juice somewhere secret so the children don't slurp it all up by this weekend. That stuff is like gold, people. There's nothing like making it yourself to help you understand that you don't just mindlessly consume food. As a side note, I really want to go mushroom hunting. 

4. I'm going to sit down and reread this book even though I just read it a month ago. Even if you're not a homeschooling family (and we are only for the younger kids), this book has so much to offer in terms of developing family culture. I love how she talks about family and being a doer and empowering your children to take charge of their education and their lives. I wish Lori was my neighbor so I could walk down the lane to hear her words of wisdom, but since I can't, I talk to her in the forum on her website. Her wisdom sustains me when I start to feel weary and she fills me back up again. I'm not sure how I'd do this without her. 

5. I'm going to go finish some long overdue projects in the studio this afternoon and then rearrange everything. And make chili. And finish the laundry. There's my afternoon agenda. I'm sure it'll all get done. 

6. I need to work on a new webside/Etsy shop tonight for a collaboration with Melissa. I am super duper excited about working with her and I hope it's well received. 

I think that's enough. Time to stop talking and start doing. 

 

Comments

[Lori]

thank you so much for your kind words re: the book and the site. :)

you made my day!

[sarah]

all good things! i've been a floundering fool over here during this first month of 'new'. hope to follow your lead! xo

[Kelly]

2 - 25 hours a week is no small amount, go easy on yourself!

3 - that sounds like a lot of work.

4 - I want to read that book and I don't even homeschool.

6 - anything you ladies do will be lovely, can't wait!

[Stacey]

It sounds like you've got so much going on, in a great way. I need to take from you that you can homeschool and work more than just a few hours. Good luck mama, take a deep breath.

I love the image of a bike with a flat of mason jars on it's back, sounds like something I might see in my neighborhood.

[amanda {the habit of being}]

your project with melissa sounds promising! so excited to see what you two are cooking up :)

[Jules]

Thanks so much for the book mention. It's already on order for me now as it looks like just what I need. Look forward to hearing more about your days and you seem to accomplish lovely things. I love your posts and seeing the beautiful scenery of your life (cute teens and kids thrown in helps too!).

[beki]

It all sounds good! I can't wait to see what you and Melissa have in store:)