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This is the earliest first snow that I can remember in a long time. ❄️ We still have our leaf cut outs on the windows! 🍁🍂 It’s actually pretty gross out there because most of the snow is sleet. So this definitely won’t be our “first snowman” day, especially because it supposed to switch to rain in not too long. Happy fall/winter! . . . Ellie, “But Mama, we haven’t even raked our leaves yet!” 😂The raindrops and my sticker are proof that I did just actually go vote. 😀 There’s still lots of time for you to vote too!! #getoutthevoteTomorrow, I’m going to vote because I DON’T want this to be me. 😉 Your vote does matter! (As an example, the 2018 Baltimore County Executive primary was decided by 17 votes.) Set yourself a reminder on your phone, tape a note to your door, do whatever it takes to remember and VOTE! #getoutthevote (awesome graphic: @semi_rad)All the cool kids go hiking in their costumes on Halloween, right? 😉 #salmonandsouvlakiexplores #doublerockparkIt’s a finished quilt top (sewn in 15 minutes a day for the past two months) and a maple tree that went from yellowed icky leaves to bright red-orange gorgeousness in 2 days. Two things to celebrate today! #salmonandsouvlakisews #100daysofsewingbeforechristmas #acerrubrum #mapletreesofinstagramThere’s always one seed determined to escape. 😉 (And isn’t this the most beautiful salad mix? I should make a quilt inspired by these colors.) . . . Rocky Top lettuce mix salad blend seeds from @bakercreekseeds #lettuceofinstagram #salmonandsouvlakigardensToday has been Perler beads and @sparkle_stories aaaallllll day. A good thing too because this mama had all kinds of work to do on the computer. They been busy re-creating many of the characters from the Misty of Chincoteague books, their current literary obsession. Nana (@priscillaljudge) gave Ellie a box set of eight books by Marguerite Henry and Nik has been reading them aloud to the kids in the evening. It was definitely all their own idea to make all the animals! Check out the second picture for a kid-styled view of them with Misty and Skipper (Paul and Maureen’s dog). There probably will need to be a trip to Chincoteague for Pony Penning Day in the next couple years. 😀#selfdirectedlearning #unschooling #artsintegration #childrensliterature #mistyofchincoteague #salmonandsouvlakilearnsThese kids had a lot of fun carving/painting pumpkins with Yiayia today. And this mama had a very enjoyable day doing some sewing all by herself, also thanks to Yiayia! It was a great day for everyone! 😍 #grandmasarethebestWe were so excited to receive our copy of #herbaladventures in the mail yesterday! Written by Rachel Jepson Wolfe of @lusa_mama, the book is beautifully laid out and easily accessible, even to novice herbalists. Ellie in particular is very excited to start forging in the spring and she’s already talking about inviting friends to join us in our own herbal adventures! She also almost immediately asked me to read her the whole plantain section because she recognized that plant from our own yard. 😉 This year,, I intentionally did not weed the plantain out of our landscaping beds because I knew it was useful. And I’m glad that I have this book now to tell me how to use it. Highly recommended! #notasponsoredpost #salmonandsouvlakiadventures #salmonandsouvlakilearns #unschooling #herbalmedicine #herbaladventuresbookI am working on cutting out my Lenten ornaments while Ellie is offering a master class in gymnastics for Marko in the background. I love all the collaboration and encouraging words that I’m hearing from them. 😍 Plus can’t beat 70 degrees and bright sunshine in late October! #unschooling #selfdirectedlearning #salmonandsouvlakisews #fallismyfavoriteIt might have taken me four months longer than I had planned, but I finally got bins (and labeled them!) for our detox bath supplies. I was keeping them in the bathroom in their hard to seal, ugly bags. However, I recently was part of a group purchase for 50-pound bags of Epsom salts for super cheap. And, not wanting to store 50 pounds of salt in my bathroom 😉, @ikeausa to the rescue! There are now three #100usefulbeautifuldays projects enhancing our bathroom (see also the bathmat and cloth wipe pail liner). Anyone who attended our wedding (who also has a super keen memory for details) might remember the paper for the labels as also being the paper for our wedding programs. 😂 I may never use up all my leftover paper! . . . Questions about a detox bath? We use Epsom salts (for magnesium), baking soda (changes the pH of the water and helps absorption), and borax (for the essential element boron, which aids in cell absorption of magnesium and also is an essential element on its own for the body). We aim for about 20 minutes in the water (with water as hot as we can stand). It’s great for overall detoxification for general health and also really helpful for muscle aches and pains. Thanks to our awesome chiropractor, @dr.lauradover for the detox/muscle aches bath recipe. 😀I hope you don’t mind me bragging for a minute, but I just harvested $54 (FIFTY FOUR) worth of vegetables and fruit from my garden!! 👊💪 This includes organic Fuji apples (swipe to the third picture to see the weird black stuff that grew on them this year but, hey, it scrubs off and they are delicious), radishes, salad greens, 2 kinds of turnips, cooking greens, eggplant, sweet peppers, and purple beans. Keep swiping to the fourth picture to see the actual list. As I was picking/processing everything this morning, it occurred to me that it was a pretty good haul so I decided to quantify it. I paid myself at the highest rates that I see at the @32ndstreetfarmersmarket because my garden is organic and those greens are super fancy. 😍 Also, hakurei turnips are incredibly expensive to buy (but thankfully, super easy to grow). Turns out, a tiny garden can turn out a lot of stuff and I most definitely have paid for my seeds this year. 😂 . . . Bonus thought 1️⃣: see that little pink piece of paper next to the vegetable list? Swipe one more picture over to read it if you want a really great series of things to think through when you’re craving something that perhaps isn’t the best choice for your body. . . . Bonus 2️⃣: I don’t know how anyone lives without metal cabinets. Ours were made in the early 1950s down on Russell Street, near where Ravens Stadium is now. It is so nice to be able to keep things on them with magnets. I don’t know how I would survive in my kitchen otherwise. 😉 #salmonandsouvlakigardens #eatwhatyougrow #growwhatyoueat #organicgardening #hakureiturnips #snowapples #ediblelandscapingCategories
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Category Archives: cleaning
My Life, Under New Management
Two weeks ago, I went to a workshop led by one of the founders of Agile Learning Centers (ALC). The workshop was focused on learning how to use agile management tools in support of self-directed learning. I’m in the process … Continue reading
Posted in cleaning, cooking, house/neighborhood, reflecting
2 Comments
A New Thanksgiving Tradition
We certainly have some Thanksgiving traditions in our family. I always make these pumpkin orange rolls, of course we eat cranbrosia, and we (for three years running now) braise our turkey for the most incredibly delicious and moist turkey you’ve … Continue reading
Misappropriation of Party Planning and Preparation Time
Last Saturday afternoon, I had the fun of hosting a bridal open house (like a shower only with no presents involved) for one of my best friends. I had allocated the day before (Friday) for house cleaning and food preparation, … Continue reading
Posted in cleaning, friends, gardening
6 Comments
Folding Laundry (shades of “Journal of Best Practices”)
Here’s how I like to fold laundry, in my ideal world. First, I sort it into piles – Ellie, Mark, Nik, Laura, bath towels, sheets, kitchen (wash clothes, towels), napkins, etc. (I didn’t do this initial step until I had … Continue reading
Life Hack: Make Your Clean Space Attractive Enough to Motivate You to Keep It That Way
I love how our dining room table looks when it’s clean. Chairs pushed in and totally clear of clutter The vase was a Christmas present from Nik’s brother and sister-in-law. I love the structural beauty of it so I leave … Continue reading
Posted in cleaning, useful beautiful
5 Comments
KIOS: Grooming, Part 4: In Praise of Infrequent Flushing
This post is part of my series, “Kickin’ It Old Skool: Why and How We Are Old-Fashioned” or KIOS for short. If you’re new to the series, please read my disclaimer before continuing on. I’m keeping a table of contents … Continue reading
When Principles Meet Nostalgia
Nik and I have some fairly strong convictions on what kind of toys we want to have in our house. I blogged about this more extensively in this post. Specifically, we decided that we didn’t want to have any plastic … Continue reading
Posted in cleaning, Ellie, parenting, useful beautiful
8 Comments
