Stopping by Woods on an Autumn Day

I stopped today.

I stopped today by the edge of our woods.
Wild grapes, blackberries, crab apples, Michaelmas daisies.
An abundance that will feed many this winter.

I stopped today by the edge of our fields.
The sugar house in a field of yellow ferns lies quiet waiting for a different season.

I stopped today along our old road.
The old schoolhouse sits shadowed by a towering maple from which children surely must have played.

We stopped today to touch the sunbeams as they streamed through the fog.
Time feels like it is streaming by, just like the sunbeams, impossible to grasp.

It is good to stop.

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Embracing a new season

The past few weeks have been been so topsy-turvy in our household. The new school year has brought so much change to our house--new morning routines, new driving schedules, new homework routines, new orchestras, a new dinner hour, new chore routines--we are all feeling the impact.

With this comes a changing season. We all love autumn and embrace it. I think we have embraced it more than ever this year. Our family's seasonal rhythm hasn't changed and our weekends have been joyfully spent in all sorts of activities.

We've enjoyed the abundance of our garden....

with Fried Green Tomatoes ...

and putting up jams for the pantry and stewed tomatoes and applesauce for the freezer.

We're back to the weekly baking routine--granola, cookies, and bread.

I have slowly been using up our grains, washing the jars, and replacing with new.
I cleaned out and washed all the autumn hats and gloves--something I never got to last spring.
Seeing as it was 41 out this morning, it was none too soon.

Lou got into the fall organizing spirit and alphabetized my cookbooks.
Can't find a thing now.

We all sat down for several hours of crafting. Crafting together gathers us. It was so needed.

A new autumn centerpiece that the cat won't destroy.

As we sit to dinner each night we hold hands and wait in silence, until we each are truly present.
One small daily rhythm that hasn't changed.
For that, I am grateful.

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First Day of Waldorf 6th Grade

Elizabeth (I think I can call Lou, Elizabeth on this blog now) began 6th grade this week. She was eager to see her classmates and excited about her studies this year. 6th grade was Helen's favorite year at Waldorf. There was so much growth, beauty, and truly engaging work.

Some of the highlights of 6th grade include heightened academic expectations (and only 1 recess!), art with the beloved upper grades art teacher, and the year-end Knighting Ceremony and Medieval Games. Here's how her teacher put it:

The sixth grade curriculum offers the students a rich and varied palette of subjects to challenge their newly developing thinking capacities. Studies in history reach back to ancient Rome and continue through the fall of the Roman Empire and into the Middle Ages. The history focus will be supported and enhanced with geography studies of Europe and the Near East. Studies in science begin with the earth and the study of geology and mineralogy and move to the expanse of the stars and the study of astronomy. There will be an introduction to physics. Math studies include an introduction to geometry and support practical thinking through a study of percent and business math. English studies will continue throughout the year through the deepening of reading, writing, spelling and grammar skills.

The year has started off with a bang. Lou is reading From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and is examining character, setting, and other elements of the book. She has begun European geography with a family immigration research project. She's deep into a complete review of all past arithmetic. She has begun to sew a doll, carve a bowl and learn music for two orchestras.

She's on fire. She came home from her first orchestra rehearsal giggling..."Mom, it was so crazy hard. I loved it!" It's going to be a great year for Lou.

ps: the recipes and comments on my last post were most welcome. I'll be reporting on our new routines soon.

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Off to High School and a Recipe Request

Helen has officially begun high school. She has had one day of orientation and today she officially starts. To say it is stressful is putting it mildly. This must rank right up there in the high-stress life changes list.

She has a difficult time eating in the mornings. At this school, there isn't an official lunch break. The kids drop by the cafe when they have a free moment and eat on the run, often in class. I *know* she isn't going to be eating much during the day (at first anyway). We had a discussion about how she must find something to eat in the morning that will sustain her. Today she ate some porridge, but quite reluctantly. She thought maybe smoothies might work.

So I ask my dear readers.... what is your favorite kid-friendly smoothie recipe that packs a punch with some vitamins and protein?

We will get through this transition, right?

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