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This is what we did last weekend, before the heat wave hit. We always go to the same place (here, for you locals) and try to get there early to beat the heat. This time around we stayed about 30 minutes or so and were able to pick ten pounds of berries. Bunny and Birdie are both extremely industrious pickers, and love it. I hardly managed to pick a thing because I was slinging Bee and, you know, taking photographs. Like these:
My husband and Bunny, headed out to the ripest row.
Happily picking away.
Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk. I can’t be the only one whose mind sings this as the berries begin to hit the bottom of the bucket.
Some for the basket, and some for the mouth.
Bunny was sure that Birdie needed some in her pockets, as well.
Yum.
I loved this.
Whew. It was already getting pretty warm by the time we got out of there.
Our haul. Pretty good!
Heat wave here. We left our hot house behind and set up camp at my parents’ place. Air conditioning and a saltwater pool? Yes, thanks. Fortunately they’re only a five minute drive away, so we’re not far from home.
Yes, I mean literally set up camp. There isn’t an extra bed, so we put up our tent. Inside. It’s awesome.
Such a novelty. We could hardly get them out of the tent.
That is, until the cabin fever hit. Seems strange to get cabin fever in the HOT weather, but I guess it forces you inside just as much (more?) than cold would.
Much of their property is shaded, which is nice.
My mom left this “treasure” for them to find in what we call the “woodland area”. “Jewels!!!” was the first thing Birdie said.
We brought just a few beloved things along to play with. The farm,
some books, animals, baskets. The baskets are probably the hottest commodity, actually — they can be used for so many things!
The current favorite baby.
(I got the nightgown done ages ago and forgot to show you!) Bedtime is so much more fun in a tent.
Thank you so much for contributing your comments and thoughts on this post. One of the main things that came through in the comments and emails following was the concept of delayed academics, and I definitely want to address that in another post. But today it is H-O-T, hot and we are going to visit someone with air conditioning (anything over 100 degrees is just not fun).
However, I can’t leave you with just that, so how about a little chubby cheeked baby?
{hat handknit by me from this pattern in this yarn; details on Ravelry}
To go with this photo, a few Waldorf links about hats for babies:
- Waldorfmama’s handknitted hats on Etsy
- Let’s Hear it For Hats!
- Dressing the Young Baby
- Learning Through Imitation (look under the heading Protecting the Senses for the info about hats, but this is a wonderful article all the way through)
Full disclosure: I am not perfect about this, but it’s definitely something I strive for. One thing that I think has helped a lot: I have a sunhat and a cold weather hat, too. Remember, imitation is one of the driving forces of early childhood!
Luxury need not have a price — comfort itself is a luxury.
Geoffrey Beene
Join us in Quotable Sunday! Leave your name/link here and next Sunday you’ll be added to the list!
For more Quotable Sunday visit:
{Glad to be back into the groove with Quotable Sunday! I think I may have missed a few new participants — just comment on this post and I’ll add you for next week.}
Accept the children with reverence, educate them with love, send them forth in freedom. – Rudolf Steiner
Waldorf. It’s a word that probably most of you reading this blog are familiar with. Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about Waldorf, and what it means to “be” Waldorf, or to “do” Waldorf. I’m not really sure what it means; I’m still learning about it. In fact, it is something that could be studied for many years! There is so much wisdom in the pedagogy behind Waldorf education.
After I mentioned in another post that I’m an AMI trained Montessori teacher, several of you emailed me to ask how I had come to choose Waldorf after I had my own children. The simplest answer is this:
Montessori education seeks to create an independent, educated (in that they know how to do many things traditionally thought of as “education” — the three Rs) child through stimulation at certain “sensitive periods”.
Waldorf seeks to protect the senses of the child and gradually acquaint them with the world through imitation and imaginative play.
Both philosophies of education are just that: philosophies of EDUCATION. Meaning that they were both developed for use in schools, not at home. That means that in a very real sense, there is no “pure” Waldorf or Montessori home environment, and there never will be. Even the smallest classroom works quite differently from a family’s home life. That said, there are many ways to apply these concepts at home.
There is so much more about both Montessori and Waldorf, but what I’m wondering is, what do you want to know? Let’s begin a conversation. I’m obviously biased — I’ve chosen one method over the other — but I also have a solid background in Montessori education (and a BS in Early Childhood Development).
For now, here are two links that provide some good information:
- What is Waldorf Early Childhood Education? from the WECAN (Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America) website
- What is Montessori? from the NAMTA (North American Montessori Teachers’ Association) website
Next, I’ll talk more about what I’ve learned about Waldorf, and begin answering any questions you have.
Sorry about the unintended summer vacation! It was good to be gone, and it’s good to be back. I’ve missed you all! I hope you’ve been enjoying a bit of mental vacationing too.
Aren’t these two summer flowers lovely together?
I’ll be back with another post tomorrow — see you then!
to say that I’m sorry I missed Quotable Sunday, and that the deadline for signing up for the Seasons Round Exchange is TOMORROW! So if you’ve been thinking you might sign up, this is the time.
What’s going on here:
- sad, teething baby. So, so sad.
- husband having midnight trip to ER for dislocated shoulder (it’s nearly recovered now)
- after a glorious weekend hike, twisting my ankle quite badly in the parking lot of the craft store.
We are awfully discombobulated around here. Hope to be back very soon, when all calms down.
Cherries!
We have a friend who asked us to come help her pick her cherries, as they have more than they can keep up with. Who could say no to that?
I love how cherry picking so clearly showed each of their personalities. Bunny was up the ladder as quick as a little mountain goat, picked a few cherries, and then leapt off (the top rung) of the ladder, wanted to move it so that she could pick another clump of cherries, from a different tree.
Birdie waited, and watched her sister, then steadily and slowly climbed up the ladder, asking my mom, who had come with us, to hold it for her. She then proceeded to pick every single cherry in her reach, discarding those that were not to her liking.
My enthusiastic, joyful, exuberant Bunny.
My dedicated, thoughtful, determined little Bird.
Do you ever just sit in amazement that such little people are so much themselves?
It got so hot last week I could barely stand it. Finally, on the 5th of July, we headed out to the coast, knowing we could count on it being much cooler. I could never, ever live in a place that is landlocked — at least, not for long. My heart longs for the ocean. Someday I believe I’ll live on an island. I’ve even dreamt of it, many times.
{self portrait, white linen skirt}
Funny thing is, my husband has had the same dream. We’re going to have to build him a little writer’s cottage there, I think.
{watching the surfers}
Even the baby loved the beach. I think the soothing sound of the sea speaks to all babies.
{on a blanket, nestled next to a rock}
Of course, the big girls are devoted to the ocean. This day was just perfect — a little cool, but not cold. A little hazy, not too sunny and bright.
{at the water’s edge}
{crazy amazing moss — don’t you love the gradient of color?}
{barnacles and “snea snails”, as Birdie calls them}
We also got to see “sea enemies” and they were convinced that they would find some “moisters”. “Moistures?” asked Bunny. “No, MOISTERS,” replied Birdie. Of course.
{lovely view}
This was a new beach for us — we usually go to a different beach, but this one has a reputation for being sheltered, and I was worried that it might be too windy for Bee. Turns out I needn’t have worried, but it was nice to try something different for a change anyway. We managed to have this little cove all to ourselves. Maybe half a dozen surfers showed up, with their beautiful, peaceful movements out at sea, something we don’t get to watch at our regular beach.
{looking out to sea}
My favorite thing to do, though, always, is just to spend some time looking out to sea.
