Dos Flaming Avocadoes

We have a NEW WEBSITE!

2011-08-24T16:23:00.001-05:00

Please go to www.goodearthfarmschool.com. Our new website has a built in blog and we will be posting there from now on.

Thank you for following us.

- The Good Earth Farm School

8/22/11

2011-08-22T14:24:00.001-05:00

Many of our five year old friends started kindergarten today, and they aren't far from our thoughts...a couple of our friends start tomorrow, best wishes to them, too!

May your days be many and your troubles be few.
May all God's blessings descend upon you.
May peace be within you, may your heart be strong.
May you find what you're seeking wherever you roam.
~Irish Blessing

We enjoyed painting today...

And doing the dishes...

And sweeping...

And forest adventures, feeding the cats, rabbits, and large animals, eating peanut butter banana smoothies and awesome egg salad, watching hummingbirds, playing dominoes, reading new library books, crocheting, and soaking up the sunshine.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Weekly Menu, 8/22-8/26/11

2011-08-22T05:52:00.000-05:00

Monday
AM: peanut butter banana smoothies
Lunch: egg salad, rice crackers, organic baby carrots
PM: trail mix (granola, craisins, nuts, sunflower seeds)

Tuesday
AM: French toast
Lunch: cheese tortellini w/ spinach and garlic butter
PM: kid- made Friendship bread

Wednesday
AM: organic apples
Lunch: homemade tomato soup, kid-made bread sticks, cheddar cheese cubes
PM: white bean tip, tortilla chips

Thursday
AM: Greek yogurt w/ honey and granola
Lunch: pinto beans, brown rice, spinach salad w/ homemade vinaigrette
PM: organic carrots, organic celery, homemade ranch dip

Friday
AM: oatmeal w/ dried fruit
Lunch: taco salad: local grass fed beef, black beans, organic lettuce, shredded carrots, tortilla strips, salsa)
PM: haystacks: chow mein noodles, peanut butter, chocolate

Weekly Menu, 8/8-8/12/11

2011-08-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Monday
AM: pineapple
Lunch: pasta w/ lentil sauce (brown rice pasta, lentils, organic marinara sauce), Parmesan cheese
PM: snack mix: sunflower seeds, organic raisins, dark chocolate chips

Tuesday
AM: organic apples w/ honey/lemon/cashew dip
Lunch: BLT sandwich on toast (whole grain bread, nitrite/nitrate free turkey bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise), fruit salad (watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries)
PM: rice cakes w/ organic peanut butter and strawberry jam

Wednesday
AM: bananas
Lunch: roasted pastured chicken w/ organic quinoa and mixed vegetables
PM: corn tortilla chips, bean dip (pinto beans)

Thursday
AM: organic oatmeal w/ brown sugar and cinnamon and organic milk
Lunch: black bean enchilada casserole (black beans, brown rice, corn tortillas, homemade gluten-free enchilada sauce, Colby Jack cheese), organic baby spinach salad w/ homemade vinaigrette
PM: organic popcorn w/ butter, peanuts

Friday
AM: dry rice cereal squares
Lunch: scrambled eggs, bagels w/ cream cheese, applesauce
PM: organic baby carrots, hummus

Weekly Menu, 8/1-8/5/11

2011-07-31T09:12:00.000-05:00

MondayAM: organic strawberries and cranberry granola w/ organic milk
Lunch: homemade gluten free macaroni and cheese, organic broccoli
PM: snack mix: banana chips, sunflower seeds, organic raisins

Tuesday
AM: organic cinnamon crunch cereal (dry)
Lunch: Asian chicken salad (pastured chicken, mayo, green onion, mandarin oranges, chow mein noodles)
PM: Goldfish crackres, string cheese

Wednesday
AM: mango smoothie (mangos, organic vanilla yogurt)
Lunch: black beans, organic brown rice, organic spring mix salad greens w/ balsamic vinaigrette
PM: homemade watermelon sorbet, corn tortilla chips

Thursday
AM: Schumann's Bakehaus Powerhaus cookies
Lunch: Greek quiona salad (organic quinoa, tomatoes, parsley, lemon juice, feta cheese, garlic, olive oil), turkey meatballs
PM: corn chips, bean dip (pintos)

Friday
AM: wholegrain cinnamon toast
Lunch: pigs in a blanket (turkey hot dogs, crescent rolls), baked beans
PM: no-bake peanut butter oatmeal cookie balls

This Week, 7/25/11+

2011-07-28T11:04:00.001-05:00

Everyone has their passion. Mine is watching young humans develop. And, I think it just might be the most amazing process ever! Not to toot our horn, but I think magic happens here daily...we simply have to notice.

Sleep gloves...

Learning to use our puff ball catapults...

She loved watching the puff balls fly!

Mechanics...

Ojos de Dios...

Making a family banner...

Curtain peek-a-boo...

Rocking and singing...

Happy cook!

We conducted a staff meeting Wednesday night...dinner together and experience in the living arts. We washed our dishes and cloth napkins after our meal. PreK and TransPreK will add this to their lunch routine in late August.

One pod or two?

Making BLTs for lunch...

Knitting circle...

Catapult construction...

Now that's a multitasking working mom!

Mustache and beard...

The giant's chair...

Mixing concrete with Mr. Jesse for our bread oven foundation...

Seeing what a fifteen pound catapult ball may have felt like...

Did we mention they love the catapults?

Crowns...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

7/26/11

2011-07-26T14:00:00.001-05:00

Today we built Popsicle stick catapults in Summer Camp and PreK...

Miss Janie's instructions...thanks for the great lesson plans and kits of materials delivered to our classrooms!

Drawing...

This student drew herself with her brother...love his stylin' ball cap!

Our new water boxes are swell!

One of my favorites!

The children will awaken to the smells of berry crumble. I love nurturing the children with homemade food that smells fantastic!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

7/25/11

2011-07-25T15:13:00.001-05:00

"Medieval Times" is our theme this week. Andrea's amazing chalkboard drawings...

Knights and dragons, oh my!

New bench...

Today's chefs making bean enchilada casserole...

Finger knitting...

Watercolor painting with "royal" colors...

Some painted shields...

Costume from home...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Weekly Menu, July 25-29, 2011

2011-07-23T17:25:00.000-05:00

Monday
AM: oatmeal w/ brown sugar and cinnamon, organic milk
Lunch: enchilada casserole (corn tortillas, homemade enchilada sauce, pinto beans, cheese), organic spinach w/ homemade vinaigrette
PM: peanuts, snack mix

Tuesday
AM: clementine oranges and organic apples
Lunch: BLT sandwich (nitrite/nitrate turkey bacon, organic Romaine lettuce, tomatoes on wheat bread), pineapple rings
PM: berry crumble (blueberries, blackberries, homemade shortbread crumble top), sun tea

Wednesday
AM: dry cereal
Lunch: Andrea's taco salad (black beans, lettuce, tomatoes, shredded carrots, salsa dressing, shredded cheese, corn tortilla strips)
PM: kid-made cantaloupe sorbet, veggie chips

Thursday
AM: Schumann's Bakehaus granola, organic vanilla yogurt
Lunch: shepherd's pie (local grass fed ground beef, organic mixed veggies, mashed potatoes)
PM: rice cakes, organic raisins

Friday
AM: bagels w/ cream cheese
Lunch: homemade cheese pizza, applesauce
PM: sesame sticks, organic craisins

7/20 and 7/21/11

2011-07-21T14:57:00.001-05:00

Drawing a campfire...

The compass says it's that way...

Bear hunt...

Campfire...

Sewing pouches in summer camp...

I'm so proud that my son learned to finger knit...

Chopping chicken for today's new salad...

More knitting...

Painting the solar oven black...

Stamping first aid bags...

Name tags for the first aid bags...

TransPreK's bags...

Digging the hole to pour a concrete pad for our bread oven...

Camping...

Triage for pretend injuries with Kim...

"What's wrong?".

Gathering things to cook...

Grilling sticks...

He found an old "bow and arrow"...

This is a meeting of the girl tribe. Boys can belong, but in the words of Beyonce "Who rule the world? Girls!".

Girl tribe cheer...

To follow is the leader recording the rules of girl tribe on bark, with a stick pen. The rules are:

1. Finger knit all day.
2. Don't lie.
3. Be nice to each other.
4. Have fun.
5. Never tell secrets or the secret hideout.
6. Only leaders can wear compasses, and when I tap your head you're in girl tribe.
7. You can have fake cousins. [As boys can only belong if they are cousins.]

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

7/19 and 7/20/11

2011-07-20T14:07:00.001-05:00

Pig bath...

Finger knitting...

Sewing a bag...

Homey...

Time to make the black bean burgers...

Self-serve snack...

First fine motor lesson of the day...peeling Clementine oranges. Don't underestimate two and three year olds' ability to self-serve!

If they aren't knitting, they're drawing!

Team work...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

7/19/11

2011-07-19T18:24:00.001-05:00

Another of Andrea's beautiful drawings...

One of today's sous chefs...

Basil chiffonade and diced eggplant...

Setting up for a friend's birthday snack...

Camp cooks...

Listening to books outside...

Today's yummy lunch per Molly's suggestion...eggplant!

Yum!

Today he liked the spinach!

Peeling carrots for afternoon snack and tomorrow's black bean burgers...

Sorting black beans...

Flashlights...

First aid bandages for fun...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

7/18/11

2011-07-18T14:57:00.001-05:00

It's "Great Outdoors" week! Time to pitch a tent and have some fun! It wouldn't be complete without Texas fire ants, which we discovered while setting up the tent this morning.

This week's reading selection...

Setting up...

Compasses...

Camp cooking...

Gathering "food"...

Dicing sticks, natch...

Indoor camping...

with flashlights...

Painting...

Playing a great baking game from Haba...non-competitive, and it teaches sequencing!

Feeding and petting...

New lamps to add a homelike warmth to our classrooms...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Menu, 7/18-7/22/11

2011-07-18T12:03:00.003-05:00

Monday
AM: fruit salad (organic strawberries, organic grapes, bananas)
Lunch: beef and bean chili (local grass fed beef, pinto beans), cornbread
PM: veggie snack sticks, guacamole

Tuesday
AM: cantaloupe, rice cereal squares
Lunch: eggplant bake (eggplant, onions, garlic, tomatoes, basil, mozzarella), organic baby spinach w/ homemade balsamic vinaigrette
PM: organic carrot sticks, hummus, pretzels

Wednesday
AM: Clementine oranges, toasted oat cereal
Lunch: homemade black bean burgers (beans, tomatoes, cilantro, cumin, carrots, oatmeal) on wheat bread, roasted cauliflower
PM: gingersnap sandwiches (gingersnaps, Nutella)

Thursday
AM: bird seed bars from Schumann's (oats, brown sugar, gluten free flours, flax/sesame/sunflower seeds, chocolate chips)
Lunch: chicken rice salad (roast chicken, brown rice, smoked almonds, organic celery, organic craisins, mayo, organic yogurt, curry powder)
PM: solar cooker shortbread, organic apple slices

Friday
AM: sesame sticks and craisins
Lunch: bacon/egg/chive/cheese mini quiches, organic romaine lettuce with lemon juice and olive oil
PM: organic popcorn, almonds

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

7/13-7/14/11

2011-07-14T15:09:00.001-05:00

Drawing the ocean with beeswax crayons...

Strumming the kinder lyre...

Framing a successful nap time starts long before lunch. After preparing nap mats, I had the children listen as I read a meditation for children called "The Sandcastle and the Swan". The meditation was read twice and the children were deeply interested and calm as they listened the second time through. We walked calmly to lunch, and had noticeably better lunch behavior!

Listening to the guided meditation...

Pals...

Oatmeal...

Petting farm field...

Cooking...

The knitting continues!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

7/13/11

2011-07-13T15:20:00.001-05:00

Wednesday...time to bake bread!

There's nothing wrong with learning to use a broom...I'd rather teach a child to use a broom than have them walk away from a messy table after snack so that we can hurry to learn the next thing on our lesson plan!

Marble run...

Animal play...

Finger knitting with novelty yarn...

He made himself a bracelet...

The almost five year old, teaching the three year old...self-initiated. The three year old listened intently throughout the lesson. P.S. I haven't taught this lesson to them!

Another spontaneous peer to peer lesson...Finger Knitting 101.

Fishing with magnetized poles...

Felt board...

One lovely mama knit these sea creatures for her sons...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Weekly Menu, 7/11-7/15/11

2011-07-13T05:52:00.001-05:00

Monday
AM: organic strawberries and bananas
Lunch: brown rice pasta w/ roasted chicken and organic broccoli, Parmesan cheese
PM: string cheese, pretzels

Tuesday
AM: oatmeal w/ brown sugar and cinnamon, organic milk
Lunch: pinto beans, brown rice, organic salad greens w/ homemade vinaigrette
PM: organic apples, organic peanut butter

Wednesday
AM: trail mix: dried fruit, dried nuts, coconut
Lunch: scrambled eggs, nitrite/nitrate free turkey bacon, homemade bread
PM: air popped organic popcorn, cheddar cheese cubes

Thursday
AM: Schumann's Bakehaus PowerHaus Cookies (quinoa, almond butter, tahini), organic craisins
Lunch: chicken and cheese nachos (roast chicken, cheese, corn tortilla chips), salsa, rice/beans
PM: organic carrot and organic celery sticks, homemade ranch dip, pretzels

Friday
AM: organic cereal w/ organic raisins
Lunch: PB&J (organic peanut butter, strawberry jam, wheat bread), applesauce
PM: snack mix: sunflower seeds, Goldfish crackers, dark chocolate chips

7/12/11

2011-07-12T18:59:00.001-05:00

Christin's ocean scape...

Andrea's chalk board drawing...

Painting project with Janie...

Drawing...

Brothers listening for the sounds of the sea...

Starting our mermaid projects by drawing faces on clothespins...

Mermaid...

Mermaids and "mermen" drying...

Freshening up with lavender spray and a comb after nap...

More grooming...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

7/11/11

2011-07-12T10:53:00.001-05:00

It's "Ocean Week"!

Examining a starfish...

Painting bubble wrap blue...

Pressing the wrap to stamp bubbles...

Bubbles dried, adding sea life stickers...

Summer camp...reading and building a fairy house.

Shells and sand...

Water play...

Hanging out...

A boat full of sand...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

The Best Play

2011-07-06T12:48:00.002-05:00

Shortly before lunch one day last week, my small PreK group was outside playing. We were the only ones outside, and their play (as it often does) became fascinating. It was hot, the air was barely moving, but they went to work.

First, they had some fun near the tree with lots of "materials"...

They ignored other more "formed" materials...

Then, they placed logs and stumps just so. This took about 15 minutes and 2/3 of the small group of children...

Soon, more of group became interested in this obstacle. One by one they traversed their long creation. There were edits, close examination to see if two pieces were level, and lots of rules shared by the creators.

Building required engineering, experimenting, an open mind, and patience. Making the journey required balance, concentration, courage, and perseverance.

It kept the children busy for 30 minutes, and I was completely irrelevant, though close by. I guess I could have set up something similar to keep them busy or to practice gross motor skills. But why? The best play, just the best, is in them.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Melissa's Finger Knitting Tutorial

2011-07-05T10:03:00.000-05:00

Finger knitting has been a hit in the summer camp, which includes all of our five year olds destined for kinder this August. Here's a tutorial from Melissa! Grab some yarn and get going!

Meaningful Work

2011-07-01T07:48:00.000-05:00

Perhaps one of the most significant gifts we can give our children, whether at school or at home, is the gift of observing and participating in meaningful work. How many of us have had the experience of having had a play room full of toys available to our children, and yet they want to play with our things, close to us? Yes, children love to be near their parents, but it is also the idea of purpose that draws them in. Our energy is focused on the lap top, the dishwasher, or the lawnmower because the task at hand must be done. They push the "enter" button, pull out the bottom drawer of the dishwasher, and find something to push across the lawn to mimic our focus. They aren't just trying to get on our nerves, I assure you!

Similarly, children take great joy and receive vast comfort in the repetition of life. It is important that the framing of major daily events take place at nearly the same time, in the same way. Nothing requires more predictability than the activities surrounding...food and sleep! Besides love, food and sleep are the foundation for children and parents alike. We have all experienced our children requesting the same book night after night, or the behavior that comes with an over-hungry child whose body has come to expect lunch at 12. It is clear that repetition is something children value (and need).

How, then, can we allow our children time to participate in meaningful tasks that repeat because they have purpose, because they must be done? How can we allow the repetition that it takes for our child to do the task well and to take comfort in the peace of predictability? What are reasonable expectations?

First, let us all acknowledge that our lives with young children are incredibly busy, whether we stay home with our children or work outside the home. Whew!, and "I'm too busy" is not an excuse! Now, let us acknowledge that our children need to care for themselves someday. They'll need to feed themselves in college, do laundry, or even negotiate kindergarten lunch time all on their own. And, there's also an academic reason for all this: in focusing on purposeful tasks, you'll help your child build brain synapses that allow for concentration as they move into the academic realm at age 6 or so.

Setup

1. Identify 3 or 4 tasks that your child can assist with on a daily basis. Make sure they are spread out a bit.

2. Does the environment need to be modified for their success? Is there a "safe" real paring knife that your child can use to chop the bell pepper that you have cut in thin strips? Is there a small basket with a child-size spray bottle and a cloth waiting for their after-dinner wiping of the table? What will they stand on?

3. Can you perform these tasks with your child with joy and patience?

4. Is this something that really needs done? Remember, it must have purpose. Kids know if it's phony!

5. Is this task something my child will find interest in, and is its length age appropriate?

6. Revise tasks if the experience is miserable. Also, keep trying!

Doing

1. Turn off the TV! Get away from the laptop! Put your cell phone away! Focus.

2. Perform each task or a similar task alongside your child. Don't give many instructions. Just work, and maybe sing or hum.

3. Don't offer praise. (What?!?) Yep, don't interrupt your child's concentration with a need to make them feel like they're the best chopper you've ever seen. It's not true, and the honor of you working beside them and the process of successfully completing the task will build self-esteem all on its own.

4. Let the child be part of the whole process, set-up, doing, and clean-up. "Start to finish" let's them see the real time and effort involved in the task.

5. Thank the child for his or her help, but here's the catch. The "thank you" isn't expressed as "thank you for helping mom cook dinner" but rather "thank you for helping make dinner for our family". The subtle difference, and the reason we shouldn't pay the child for chopping the peppers, is that they are part of a loving family where it is the expectation that everyone contributes to the family's work and its play.

Ideas for the Child 18 months to 2 1/2 years:

carry laundry to the hamper, sort laundry, carry one's plate to the trash or compost bucket and scrape, sort clean silverware, pick up toys, wipe a chair or table that has been sprayed, help feed the pet, carry items to the recycling bin, knead dough, top a pizza, put clothes in drawer as adult hands them to the child

Ideas for the Child 2 1/2 years to 3 years:

help measure ingredients and push the buttons on the food processor or blender, carry clothes to laundry, sweep the floor with a whisk broom and small dust pan, water plants, chop soft items with a butter knife, put away non-breakable groceries

Ideas for the Child 3-5 years:

begin using a paring knife/grater/vegetable peeler as skills progress, vacuum, fold dish towels/wash cloths/cloth napkins, retrieve the correct number of items at the grocery store (i.e. 4 lemons), wash dishes, load the dishwasher, use a toothbrush to clean baseboard or a shower, put away one's own laundry, fold one's mid-size blanket, straighten bed, dust, pound nails, haul dirt/sand/rocks in a wagon or child-size wheelbarrow

Want to know more? Here are some highly recommended resources for bringing joy, purpose, and repetition to the tasks in your home.

You are Your Child's First Teacher: What Parents Can Do With and For Their Children from Birth To Age Six ~Rahima Baldwin Dancy

Home Away from Home: LifeWays Care of Children and Families ~Cynthia Aldinger and Mary O'Connell

Heaven on Earth ~Sharifa Oppenheimer

6/28/11, 6/29/11

2011-06-29T14:56:00.001-05:00

Sorting beans...

Working on an area to add an entrance stone to the labyrinth...

Lunch...

Wood blocks...

Drawing...

Block "cell phones"...

Finger knitting...

Domino towers...

Yoga poses...

Chalkboard drawing...

Happy flowers...

Animal figures...

Rocks and minerals book...

The giant's chair...

More knitting...

Swinging...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

6/28/11

2011-06-28T14:13:00.001-05:00

Chopping tomatoes for lunch...

Quiet reading...

Circle the first letter of your name...

Housekeeping...

Grab a chair, now dance!

Kinderlyre, soothing music.

Finger-knitting club.

Homemade journals...

Soft music and nap "nests" await the children after lunch...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Monday, 6/27/11

2011-06-28T06:25:00.001-05:00

It's rocks, gems, and minerals week as well as our first of five weeks of summer camp. The morning started with lunch prep...quartering red potatoes to roast...

Sorting pebbles by color...

Chalkboard drawing...

Using a hammer and pins to construct...

Watercolor painting with gem colors...

Making journals...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Weekly Menu, 6/27-7/1/11

2011-06-26T19:07:00.000-05:00

Monday
AM: dry organic cereal
Lunch: turkey meatloaf, roasted red potatoes w/ garlic, steamed broccoli
PM: peanut butter pretzels, organic apple slices

Tuesday
AM: bananas
Lunch: lentil taco salad (cooked lentils, tortilla chips), shredded organic lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese
PM: veggie sticks and homemade ranch dip (organic carrots, organic celery), rice cakes

Wednesday
AM: cinnamon toast
Lunch: homemade vegetarian bean chili, homemade breadsticks
PM: organic hummus, nut thin crackers

Thursday
AM: oatmeal w/ brown sugar and cinnamon, organic milk
Lunch: King ranch casserole (chicken, organic corn, flour tortillas, homemade cream soup, shredded cheese), organic baby spinach w/ homemade balsamic vinaigrette
PM: watermelon, ginger snaps

Friday
AM: organic raisins, organic animal crackers
Lunch: egg rolls, steamed brown rice w/soy sauce, organic mixed vegetables
PM: pretzels, string cheese

Lifeways Training, Day 8, 6/22/11

2011-06-22T21:29:00.001-05:00

In training today, we discussed the importance of creative play that does not have an external or pre-planned purpose. Because the child "thinks outside the box" in imaginative creative play (with open-ended materials) he problem solves without the constraint of using a material only as it is typically used. It is always a pleasure for us to see our school children using their imaginations to make an inanimate object take on a life of its own! For example, a child using a block as a telephone first observed (using his senses) an adult using a real phone, then via his imagination and will, the child reproduces the phone in play. Such play trains the brain and builds synapses, laying a foundation for later academic pursuits including executive skills such as negotiating, imagining outcomes, and planning.

In the afternoon, we discussed seven life processes including breathing, warming, nourishing, secreting/discriminating/eliminating, maintaining, growing, and generating.

Janie and I had fun learning to use sewing machines over the last week. We made our own aprons!

Back at school...I enjoyed receiving a picture of my children reading together.

Nap time smiles...

Someone rolled off their mat!

Teamwork making pizza...

Pig round-up...

They grew an inch!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Lifeways Training, Day 7, 6/21/11

2011-06-21T18:30:00.001-05:00

Happy Solstice!

Today in class we spent time working with rhythm, routine and reverence. We are working to make sure that we have a personal plan to get what we need done at home and at work, but not to the detriment of time for artistic, nurturing, and spiritual pursuits.

We enjoyed being the children during a suggested ritual for putting children down for nap, which really begins 1 1/2 to 2 hours before nap as you prepare the child's nap area before lunch. We look forward to adding some of the nurturing suggestions to our nap time.

A couple of thoughts from our work today...

•When we don't make choices, life makes choices for us...one way or the other we will meet our life's destiny.

•Are you living life or are you lived? Your answer has an impact on your strength and energy.

Whew! Much to think about. Back at school, it looks like many wonderful moments were had.

Teamwork...

Taco time...

Tissue paper collage...

Measuring turtle babies...

Hatchlings...

Little lady...

Get a leg up...

Washing...

Snack...

Pals...

Undercover...

Melon...

BFFs...

Big guy nurturing...

Washing chairs...

Making bread...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

LIfeways Training, Days 5 and 6, 6/17 and 6/20/11

2011-06-20T20:30:00.001-05:00

Hello!

On Friday, we spent our morning at Lifeways training reviewing the importance of gardening with children. We spent time working in the 3rd grade garden at the Waldorf school and cleaning up and weeding around a flow form on the upper grades' play yard. A flow form is a unique water structure that is thought to "heal" water, besides being incredibly healing to be around. The water has both a pulse and a rhythm that soothes the listener. Friday afternoon, we discussed how to conduct a 2 1/2 hour parent/child group. This is something we hope to offer to the public in the upcoming year.

Today we talked in depth about the L.O.V.E. (really LLOOVVEE) Approach to child guidance based on listening, laughter, order, objectivity, versatility, vulnerability, energy and enthusiasm. We talked extensively about the need to set boundaries for a child so that they not only feel secure, but also value the adults in their lives as confident leaders. We recognize that each child responds to different methods of behavior management, which many of you know just from the differences in your own children at home!

This afternoon was spent singing, learning to play our kinder harps, and cutting out fabric for a new apron. We'll be using sewing machines tomorrow! (Mom, can you believe it??)

Have a good evening!

Weekly Menu, 6/20/11-6/24/11

2011-06-19T19:38:00.000-05:00

Monday
AM: organic apple slices w/ organic peanut butter and organic raisins
Lunch: seasoned pinto beans over steamed rice, organic spinach w/homemade vinaigrette
PM: organic carrots, organic celery, ranch dip, corn chips

Tuesday
AM: warm bagels w/ organic butter
Lunch: chicken soft tacos w/ shredded cheese and salsa
PM: watermelon, organic animal crackers

Wednesday
AM: bananas
Lunch: homemade cheese pizza (homemade dough, organic pasta sauce, mozzarella cheese), pineapple
PM: sunflower seeds and yogurt covered pretzels

Thursday
AM: orange slices, pita chips
Lunch: cheese tortellini w/ garlic, olive oil, and broccoli
PM: guacamole, organic tortilla chips

Friday
AM: organic dry cereal
Lunch: PB&J sandwich (organic peanut butter, strawberry jam on whole grain sandwich round), organic mixed vegetables and organic roasted carrots
PM: colby cheese cubes, pretzels

Lifeways Training, Day 4, 6/16/11

2011-06-16T18:22:00.001-05:00

Today we reviewed the history of the first Lifeways center in Milwaukee. Many of its trials and tribulations sounded quite familiar to Janie and I. Like us, it sounds like the founders there felt that the center was needed in the community, and that their tenacity during difficult times was often rewarded with great generosity and love from the community.

In the afternoon, we talked quite a bit about how we come to this world with a destiny and a biography...a lesson to learn or an experience to gain. I know what I am here to learn, and it just keeps presenting itself again and again through different people until I learn how to handle it. Do you know what you're here to learn? Guess what? The children in our care are also on this planet with their own path, too. We as teachers must honor this...that all children are on a path.

Here are some pictures from school today!

Animales...

New leaders/teachers?

Nurturing...

Meaningful, purposeful work...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Lifeways Training, Day 3, 6/15/11

2011-06-16T07:44:00.001-05:00

On Wednesday, we spent the morning looking at the seasons and the reason to conduct festivals and celebrations to mark a change in season, an important religious date in one's faith, or a reason to give thanks. Janie and I are excited to add a couple of new elements to our fall and spring festivals, enhance our winter solstice observance, and to add something special to mark the arrival of summer (next year). With our classmates, we are tasked with planning and conducting a festival next Thursday at the Waldorf School. It should be fun, and an opportunity for our families to see what we've been up to in training.

Our classmates are pretty amazing people--parents, Waldorf teachers, in-home care providers, Waldorf-inspired school employees, current and former public school employees, and someone who works in public housing (hoping to provide Waldorf-inspired childcare to the children of single moms). I have particularly enjoyed talking to a mom and daughter from Cali who had a Waldorf school on their biodynamic farm when their own children were young, and who will be offering in- home childcare when they return home.

We are learning to play kinderharps, which are nearly impossible, we've been told, to play in an ear burning manner. Well, there was one blessed harp in our ensemble that sounded a little rough...I hope I can get that tuned for this afternoon's session. Ha!

There is much talk in our few minutes of down-time each day about chickens, gardening, finding balance between home life and work life, and nutrition!

Back at school, all is well (thank you, thank you ladies!).

It's "Frog Week", y'all!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Lifeways Training, Day 2, 6/14/11

2011-06-14T20:37:00.004-05:00

Here is a Lifeways video (in two parts on YouTube) which gives a glimpse into the style of early childhood work we seek to do at The Good Earth Day School. Lifeways North America addresses the way one should care for young children using a Rudolf Steiner/Waldorf approach, wherein there is a belief is that life is the best curriculum for young children, that "it's [the work] we do before their eyes" that matters, and that care of the young child must be relationship based.

We hope those of you that know The Good Earth Day School can already see many similarities between our school and those homes and schools featured in the Lifeways video. Janie and I are happy to report that we are excitedly taking notes and we're ready to take our school to the next level!

On the home front, the kids at school enjoyed playing a game where they leaped from one lily pad to the next...

And our babies enjoyed water play in the classroom...

Have a great night!

Lifeways Training, 6/13/11

2011-06-13T16:20:00.001-05:00

Hello from the Austin Waldorf School! Janie and I are enjoying our training (with Lifeways North America). We have danced, played kinder harps, and learned a lot about Waldorf/Steiner philosophy as it relates to the developing human from birth to age 21. We both found crocheting difficult, but we'll pick it up again tomorrow.

When you stand among mentors and hear that you're on the right track, that your observations and gut instincts align with something bigger than you, it's almost too much to bear. Many in our training session couldn't make it through a simple exercise last night, which was simply to state why we were there. Motherhood and working with children (feeding them, nurturing them, trying to provide staff and a school worthy of them) it's truly so personal to Janie and I, and to all of our fellow trainees.

Lest everything be too serious, and though we've both cried like babies, don't think we haven't laughed our buns off, too. I split my pants today and had to make a wild run to Target for new pants before I could do our movement class this afternoon. Janie had to unravel her crocheted dishcloth at least 10 times. Our kinder harps are so out of tune that they'd make babies cry, and though I'm happy to sing, I'm not sure that there is a growlers' section, as my dad would say.

But, we're here. Fumbling, succeeding, and taking it all in.

Andrea asked me to post a little something we learn each day. Today we learned we are "salutogenesists", or people in the business of promoting health and well-being. In other words, we promote "health-ease" vs "dis-ease". Healthy children, of course, grow into healthy adults, and this comes from having a happy childhood filled first with play, then academics. Time in nature, order, and healthy food allow the child to lay down a foundation of health so that when it is time to pursue academic interests, his/her mind is ready.

On the home front, it looks like the kids had a lot of fun with the frog sensory tubs!

Thanks to our staff, and Andrea in particular, for allowing us to get away from the school for training!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

The last two weeks...

2011-06-12T16:47:00.001-05:00

Bees...

Insect lacing cards...

Fingerprint bees with hand-drawn wings and stripes...

Lunch...a lesson in civility...

Fruit basket from Kingsley's family...

Community time...

Butterflies...

Her first time baking bread at school...

Stamping...

Clean up can be an "academic" experience, too. Matching the correct colored lid to the stamp pad...

She's settled in nicely...love the hat.

Painting at the parent work day...thank you so much!

Multitasking!

Painting with blue...

Happy day!

Bungee bunny!

The goat is loose..oh, well. He just wants to join in.

Considering one another...

That's quite an engineering feat!

Bean counter...

Smitten with kittens...

Ribbit. Croak.

Lovely ladies...

Mixed age grouping/crossover affords times like this. Like a family, our students learn compassion and how to adjust their touch with young friends.

I love this work...thank you to our staff for their care of our school children and for sharing wonderful photos that give insight into our days!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Weekly Menu, 6/13-6/17/11

2011-06-11T11:04:00.000-05:00

Monday AM: cheerios cereal, organic milk
Lunch: black bean nachos (black beans, organic tortilla chips, shredded Colby Jack cheese), salsa
PM: lentil chips, organic hummus

Tuesday
AM: cinnamon toast
Lunch: roasted pastured chicken, organic pasta w/ organic broccoli/olive oil/garlic
PM: pretzels, string cheese

Wednesday
AM: orange slices
Lunch: organic scrambled or hard-boiled eggs, homemade bread w/ organic butter, organic apple sauce
PM: cucumbers, organic celery, organic carrots, w/ homemade ranch dip

Thursday
AM: organic animal crackers
Lunch: wild salmon salad (salmon, mayo, dill), crackers, organic baby carrots and organic apple slices
PM: veggie stick snacks, peanuts

Friday
AM: craisins and smoked almonds
Lunch: pork egg roll, steamed rice, organic mixed vegetables
PM: peanut butter/jelly roll-up (organic peanut butter, organic strawberry jam, flour tortillas)

Weekly Menu, 6/6/11-6/10/11

2011-06-06T11:00:00.000-05:00

Monday
AM: organic vanilla yogurt w/ granola
Lunch: grilled cheddar cheese sandwich on wheat bread, organic spinach salad w/ organic strawberries and homemade balsamic vinaigrette
PM: snack mix (dried fruit, mixed nuts, Goldfish crackers)

Tuesday
AM: organic apple slices, dry cereal
Lunch: taco salad (pinto beans, corn chips, cheese, organic lettuce, tomatoes)
PM: homemade peach cobbler (oatmeal, brown sugar, cinnamon, peaches)

Wednesday
AM: cantaloupe
Lunch: organic pasta w/ parsley walnut pesto, homemade bread w/ organic butter
PM: veggie tray (homemade ranch dip w/ organic celery, organic carrots and organic cucumber)

Thursday
AM: pineapple
Lunch: egg noodles w/ olive oil, tuna and organic peas
PM: colby cheese cubes, pretzels

Friday
AM: peanut butter smoothie (organic vanilla yogurt, organic peanut butter, bananas)
Lunch: veggie roll-ups (shredded carrot and cucumber , herbed organic cream cheese on local flour tortillas), guacamole
PM: graham crackers, organic raisins

Weekly Menu, 5/31-6/3/11

2011-05-31T07:46:00.002-05:00

Tuesday
AM: fruit smoothie: organic orange juice, raspberries, bananas, organic animal crackers
Lunch: chilled pasta salad w/ lemon ginger seasame vinaigrette (organic pasta, organic vinaigrette, cucumber), black beans
PM: peanuts and Goldfish crackers

Wednesday
AM: oatmeal w/ cinnamon and organic milk
Lunch: grass fed beef meatloaf, buttered organic mixed vegetables, homemade organic bread
PM: pita chips and organic hummus

Thursday
AM: corn muffin
Lunch: bean and cheese tostados (pinto beans, corn tortillas, shredded cheese), organic applesauce
PM: dry oat cereal w/ dried fruit and nuts

Friday
AM: cheddar cheese, organic apple slices
Lunch: chicken broccoli stirfry (organic chicken thighs, organic broccoli, soy sauce), steamed rice
PM: orgnaic corn tortilla chips, salsa

2011-05-25T11:23:00.001-05:00

Lavender spray on my belly...

GEDS railroad...

Check out my toolbelt...

Christin's braiding again...

Peeling apples for morning snack...

Morning log play...

Twos bike pack...

Fairy fingers to go with our fingerplay this unit of study...

Tea time...

She wanted the face mask and goggles on at the same time...

Tummy time...

Blue sensory bag...

Bread baking...

Writing desk...

Two cardboard forms that protected new blinds during shipping have been great fun this week with marbles, cars, and trains...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

2011-05-24T19:07:00.001-05:00

Watercolor painting...

He's handy!

Cooking...

Enjoying the breeze...

Sloppy, sloppy turkey Joes were delicious!

Dipping two scoops of corn...

After nap scribbles...

Rice and beans with cheese and baby spinach with balsamic vinaigrette...iron, folate, what's not to love?

I can't say no to a guy who asks for a third serving of spinach...

Mesmerizing cat...

It was hot this afternoon so they asked to take off their shirts...we mist them with lavender water (or "bug spray" they pretend).

Sweet pals ready to roll down the hill...

Last Friday's birthday king! Can't believe he was a toddler when we met!

Smoothie sisters!

Miss Christin's braiding skills have been on display! The children must feel "My teacher makes me feel beautiful."

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Weekly Menu, 5/23-5/27/11

2011-05-23T10:01:00.000-05:00

Monday
AM: bananas, dry organic cereal
Lunch: turkey sloppy Joes on whole grain bun, buttered corn
PM: craisins and honey roasted peanuts

Tuesday
AM: organic apples, organic animal crackers
Lunch: chili rice and pinto beans, organic spinach salad w/ balsamic vinaigrette
PM: colby cheese cubes, veggie snack sticks

Wednesday
AM: cantaloupe slices, organic cinnamon harvest cereal
Lunch: homemade veggie lentil chili, buttered organic homemade bread
PM: tortilla chips, homemade guacamole

Thursday
AM: organic raisins, nut thin crackers
Lunch: kid-made cheese pizzas, baby carrots and cucumber slices
PM: organic yogurt and granola

Friday
AM: cinnamon whole wheat toast
Lunch: bean dip, shredded cheese, corn chips, sliced pineapple
PM: air popped popcorn, honey roasted peanuts

5/19/11

2011-05-19T19:20:00.001-05:00

Roll out the drum...we need a rain dance!

Bang it out...it's working!!

Even on the wagon...

Horn...ahhhruga!

Pretty posies...

Is this the feisty fairy's gem? Ask your PreK children to retell the story...

Yelling into the wind...

The young ones...

Fairy house construction...

Doll house adventure play...

Dressing baby...

Making binoculars...

After lunch clean up, even when you're two...

The imagined translated through the hand, then to the board. Always amazing to me!

Toddler fashion! Huggable.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Over the last week...

2011-05-18T14:45:00.001-05:00

Eggs, sunny side up...

Writing...

Enjoying the rain...

Friday with my dog as play yard guest...

Relaxing...

Baby's eye view...

She had such a jolly time resting on the ground...

Shhh... nap time for dollies.

Mat fun...

Enjoying juice-cicles and watching the conversion of popcorn from kernel to fluffy goodness.

Watching fairies descend...

Blindfold game...

Shepherd's pie is mighty good...

Boots and shorts, they're where it's at this Spring...

It's a puppy dog police station, I was informed...

Moving the logs required teamwork...little guys loved helping their bigger friends.

Reading about rescue vehicles...

Kneading...

Lounging...

Peekaboo...

Liam loved helping Janie fix the toilet!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Weekly Menu, 5/16-5/20/11

2011-05-13T13:56:00.000-05:00

Monday
AM: organic granola bars
Lunch: organic pasta w/ Parmesan cheese, parsley, red peppers, mushrooms, and nitrite/nitrate free ham
PM: organic popcorn, 100% juice popsicles

Tuesday
AM: sunshine cereal w/ organic milk
Lunch: shepherd's pie: grass fed beef, organic veggies, mashed potatoes
PM: pretzels, cheddar cheese cubes

Wednesday
AM: organic apple slices
Lunch: scrambled organic eggs, orange slices, homemade organic bread
PM: pita chips, organic hummus

Thursday
AM: fruit smoothie: organic apple juice, organic bananas, blueberries
Lunch: Asian turkey meatballs, organic green beans w/ organic lemon sesame vinaigrette over brown rice
PM: organic tortilla chips with bean dip

Friday
AM: craisins, organic animal crackers
Lunch: grilled cheese sandwiches (multigrain bread), homemade tomato bisque
PM: veggie stick snacks, peanuts

What's Up?

2011-05-11T12:12:00.001-05:00

Toddler Mother's Day art...

Cracking and blending eggs for frittatas...

You're never too young to bake bread...

Surprise instruments in the center of the labyrinth...

Hola!

Chalk fun...

Back scratcher?

Birthday celebrations...

Fancy with brother...

Multitasking...

He didn't mind this a bit...

Cool diaper!

Zonked...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Weekly Menu, 5/9-5/13/11

2011-05-09T08:31:00.000-05:00

Monday
AM: granola bars
Lunch: salmon salad, crackers, organic applesauce
PM: cucumber rounds, organic carrot sticks, homemade ranch dip

Tuesday
AM: coconut macaroons, bananas
Lunch: beef and black bean chili (grass fed local beef), cornbread
PM: yogurt (Greek yogurt and organic yogurt) and blueberries

Wednesday
AM: dry organic cereal, organic raisins
Lunch: frittata: eggs, red potatoes, onion, organic broccoli, homemade bread w/ organic butter
PM: lemon/rosemary kettle chips, organic apple slices

Thursday
AM: rice crackers w/ strawberry jam
Lunch: "King Ranch" rice casserole (brown rice, pastured local chicken, homemade cream of mushroom soup, red pepper, green chiles), organic spinach w/homemade vinagrette
PM: Goldfish crackers, peanuts, a few! chocolate chips

Friday
AM; warm bagels w/ organic butter
Lunch: bean nachos, buttered corn
PM; Andrea's snack mix! (made w/ kitchen treasures)

Tuesday, 5/3-Thursday 5/5/11

2011-05-05T14:16:00.001-05:00

A special thanks to our teachers for their work helping the kids with Mother's Day crafts!

Making sauce for GEDS pad Thai...

And crushing the peanuts...

It was yummy!

Out on the range...or the play yard.

Abby loves attention!

Lucy fresh from a mud bath...

Toddler tunnel...

Stumphenge...

PreK drawing for moms...

Barbra stamped the babies' feet for their moms...

TransPreK vases...Thanks for poems, Kim!

Wednesday lunch...pastured chicken, red potatoes, carrots, and homemade bread...

Four chickens feed a crowd! You can get them at Sassy Pea Market...

Our front yard canopy...it is healing to work in this outdoor space.

Siesta...

Playing siesta...

After nap stretch...

School mint for sun tea on Thursday...

Ladybugs in the butterfly garden...

New rope across "alligator river"...

Melissa shares how to approach Mocha rabbit...

Tables in the shade...

Silliness with cucumbers...

Tent...

Checking out the sun tea...

Coloring, big paper...

Train gang...

Everything's coming up rainbows...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Monday, 5/2/11

2011-05-02T16:38:00.001-05:00

Brrr...an unexpectedly cold day in Texas!

Two new gnomes courtesy of Tiffany Weisbrod and a delightful Dutch oven from the Whelan's...thank you!

Thank you to the Loew family for the beautiful high chair!

Toddlers bundling up to go out and feed the cats...

Step one, homemade tostados...frying corn tortillas.

Drain, salt lightly...

Top with refried beans and shredded cheese. Warm in a 250 degree oven until cheese is melted.

Mother's Day craft started in TransPrek...

Lunch plate...

Nature table...

This week's chalkboard drawing...

This week's library books...

Playground view from our balcony...

Lunch!!! He ate 3!

He loves beans!

A hummingbird ate his lunch as we ate ours...can you see it?

Nurturing a younger friend...

Sweet boy...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Menu, 5/2-5/6/11

2011-04-29T10:57:00.001-05:00

Monday
AM: mini macaroons and dries cherries
Lunch: bean and cheese tostadoes (organic tortilla chips), buttered organic corn
PM: veggie straws and peanuts

Tuesday
AM: organic Z bars
Lunch: vegetarian pad Thai (organic pasta, organic peanut butter, Organic eggs, peanuts, bean sprouts)
PM: cheese cubes, Goldfish crackers

Wednesday
AM: dry sunshine cereal
Lunch: rosemary roasted pastured chicken, roasted baby red potatoes and organic carrots, homemade organic bread
PM: organic tortilla chips, local tomatillo/avocado salsa

Thursday
AM: organic apple slices
Lunch: organic pasta w/black beans, cucumber, and organic lemon sesame vinaigrette
PM: fruit/nut granola bars

Friday
AM: blueberry corn muffins
Lunch: homemade peanut butter power balls (organic peanut butter, organic honey, crushed sunshine cereal), organic applesauce, crackers
PM: organic baby carrots, red pepper strips, homemade ranch dip

Back Off...

2011-04-29T08:42:00.000-05:00

It's very hard for me to accept that all people aren't generally motivated by good. My work with young children, motherhood, and my Sagitarrian sign, I guess, make me hopeful that there's always something better just ahead.

So much was accomplished this week at school: stalls mucked, water tubs cleaned, butterfly garden revamped a bit, seeds planted, recycling done, happy teachers and children in nature, a rabbit on a leash, good food in little bellies, and a former staff member who was ill re-joining us as a substitute teacher. There was major positive movement on some huge projects including a new website and purchase of the school property.

And, unfortunately, in the midst of so many uplifting events, a couple of people put a big hairy damper on things. I think that's just how it goes...for the steps we take forward, there is the requisite shedding of the old, both negative ways and negative folks. You feel it and so do I. Accept it, Leslie, some people are needy and truly unhappy. Some people are desperate for attention. Some people are jealous and manipulative. There are those who don't have an accurate read on things, but assert their assumptions and make you feel insane. I am just so sad to have to admit it's true.

I guess I've thought it polite to accommodate these folks. I've spent most of my life being the "good girl" who doesn't step on toes. I often stifle my own feelings to avoid conflict. I feel my gut instincts, then ignore some of them. This week, however, was a time to set boundaries. To say "I don't accept the weight of you, back off!".

We encourage kids to be healthy and to set boundaries, right? We encourage them to express when their feelings have been hurt or another child interrupted their turn with a beloved toy. Well, needy, negative, destructive people, I am telling the Universe that I don't have space for you amid the good work we do with only good intentions. Despite the bitter taste you have left in my mouth, I can't resist wishing you peace, love, and happiness on this planet, but stay the hell away from me!

Enough said. So, who wants to build a totem or a bread oven or a bottle tree?

Wednesday afternoon 4/27/11 and Thursday, 4/28/11

2011-04-28T11:55:00.001-05:00

Hydrating...

Cat naps...

Thursdays are for recycling...

Watering the butterfly garden...

We'll miss our friend Sophia, who is going abroad for a year. She promises to write...

Planting zucchini, yellow squash, and cucumbers...

Toddler friends at the labyrinth...

Gourds blooming...

Our front lawn looking west...

Our new flag from our little friend Maya...

Running in our backyard...

Log lifting...

Sam is going abroad with sister. He plans to pick us flowers! We'll miss you, Sam!

Cone hands...

Yoga can happen anywhere...

She wanted to don the elephant hat...

Cracking up before lunch...

Mixing Asian chicken meatballs this morning...

They're done...

Fried rice...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Wednesday, 4/27/11

2011-04-27T14:58:00.001-05:00

Wetting our worm bin with a spray bottle...

Happy baby...

We added a couple of horseshoes around the property for good luck and to ward off evil (ha!)...

Watering in the butterfly garden...thanks Allison Sutton for 3 new plants!

Slicing apples for morning snack...

Making veggie (zucchini and carrot) pizza...

She was proud to wear an apron like her teachers...

Sauce, cheese, and shredded veggies...

Mmmm...

He asked me to take a picture of his happy face playing...

Mmmm...

He had fun watching the trees and birds out the window...

She's a happy, happy girl...won't be long 'til she walks!

Cutie pie!

Baby burrito...

Visiting the bunnies...

Mocha rabbit on a new leash...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Monday and Tuesday, 4/25-4/26/11

2011-04-26T14:16:00.001-05:00

MONDAY
Making peanut butter and honey sandwiches...

Wet on wet watercolor painting...

Playing the "name game"...when you see your named spelled on the chalkboard, you stand up and jump three times!

Farm phonetics.

TUESDAY
Baby love in the stroller!

The pigs are free!

Mucking the stalls...tomorrow we clean the water troughs!

Sonny cracks us up...

Ladybug!

Hauling hay into the pigs' stall this morning...

She came this way!

Fine motor work outside...

Reading in the shade...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Weekly Menu, 4/25-4/29/11

2011-04-25T14:18:00.000-05:00

Monday
AM: organic dry cereal
Lunch: organic peanut butter and local honey on wholegrain bread, pineapple chunks
PM: string cheese, pretzels

Tuesday
AM: Clementine oranges
Lunch: pasta salad: rotini pasta, nitrite/nitrate free ham, mozzarella cheese cubes, cucumber, grape tomatoes, Newman's vinaigrette
PM: tortilla chips, salsa

Wednesday
AM: organic apple slices
Lunch: homemade veggie pizzas: organic dough, zucchini, organic carrots, organic tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, organic baby spinach w/ homemade vinaigrette
PM: goldfish crackers and craisins

Thursday
AM: peanut butter banana smoothies (organic milk, organic peanut butter), graham crackers
Lunch: Asian chicken meatballs, fried brown rice w/ organic veggies
PM: veggie chips, peanuts

Friday
AM: warm crescent rolls(Immaculate Baking Co.) with organic strawberry jam
Lunch: tuna salad, nut thin crackers, fresh pineapple
PM: bagels, organic cream cheese

Weekly Menu, 4/18-4/21/11

2011-04-17T18:55:00.000-05:00

Monday
AM: bananas
Lunch: pasta with salmon and vegetables in garlic cream sauce (wild salmon, organic veggies)
PM: organic cream cheese on wheat crackers

Tuesday
AM: berry smoothie (mixed berries, organic vanilla yogurt)
Lunch: grass fed beef meatloaf, roasted organic carrots, organic brown rice
PM: pretzels, dip

Wednesday
AM: cantaloupe, dry organic cereal
Lunch: homemade chicken noodle soup, worm (shaped) breadsticks, string cheese
PM: air popped popcorn, organic apple slices

Thursday
AM: cinnamon toast, orange slices
Lunch: black bean and cheese tostadas, tossed salad w/homemade vinaigrette
PM: ants on a log (organic celery, organic peanut butter, organic raisins)

Friday: NO SCHOOL!

Taking Time

2011-04-17T11:12:00.008-05:00

Two resounding messages from my last year or so of work with Dio Miranda is the importance of both taking time to create and taking time to do nothing. It's is so easy to spend every waking moment multi-tasking and squeezing in more productivity, and yet so many beautiful realizations come in the quiet times.

When I first considered whether or not I was taking time to be creative, my answer was "yes"! After all, my work for the last four years has been about creating a business from the ground up with my sister. In the last two years, our creative work has specifically been about bringing to life the vision we have for the school and its grounds. As a woman-owned business, we have had the freedom to create our workplace. Though it has occupied a big piece of my life, this creative work associated with the school has probably not met all of my needs on a personal level. Is it important to find a way to be creative outside of "work"? I'm sure it is. I don't sew, knit, paint, or draw as a form of relaxation, though I want to learn all of these things. I am anxious to begin dipping my toe into this handwork when Janie and I begin Lifeways training this summer at the Austin Waldorf School. In the meantime, I suppose my greatest creative act is always working to make a home that is happy, (pretty) clean, and bright where wholesome, healthy food is abundant.

Now dreaming and taking time to do nothing, that's not as hard for me once the prescription is ordered! My greatest challenge, like all moms, is finding a few minutes of unadulterated slothfulness and not feeling guilty for them.

These are some of the things that I dream about and read about in my do-nothing times:

travelling and living abroad some day, somehow; taking steps to be debt free and able to retire while I'm still young; yurts; rvs, specifically airstreams and big travel trailers that I can park somewhere for an escape; simple, magnificent, seasonal food; one or two seasonal crafts to do with my children each month; how to swing a kettlebell; natural play grounds; working efficiently and not reinventing the wheel (4 Hour Work Week); reading Dr. Mercola's health website; looking at magazines and ripping out pictures for my idea binder; reading about grain-free eating and anything else I think is good for me like having a big garden and building an outdoor oven; reading all the blogs that I have links to on this blog; and, facebook (why, why?)

Do you take time to be creative? Do you take time to do nothing?

Mostly 4/14/11

2011-04-14T16:35:00.001-05:00

We owe you some fun pics this week, so here you go!

Morning has come,
Night is away,
Rise with the sun
And welcome the day.

Gnome waiting to be noticed...

Aprons waiting for our staff...

Fresh air in the morning...

Morning muffins...

So beautiful are these moments...

Building...

Baking...

A little bread ball...

It's sweet to pair a friend needing help with a willing helper...

"Productive" open-ended play...

Watering...

Everyone needed to help pull the hose into its next position...

Five, four, three, two, one, blast off!

Thursdays are for recycling in preparation for Friday pick-up...

Hauling it to the curb...

The driveway slope makes for a fun ride...

We managed to find a bluebonnet or two...it's so dry we haven't had many this year.

My apron pocket...filled with flowers from the children.

Babies, infinitely interesting to the older children.

Love these legs and shoes (that are nearly as broad as they are long)...

Planting. The immediate reward was a peppermint leaf to chew!

Climbing, in progression. He was excited and it was a pleasure to watch him meet his goal!

A friend pushed on his bottom to help him reach the poles...

Looking down from a new vantage point...the envious yet helpful friend will be able to do it too, another day.

This is how we roll...

She found a caterpillar ready to make a cocoon...

Somewhere, under parts of the rainbow...

Under the rocker...

Brothers...

The giant's chair...

Baby meets goat...

Watching the animals...

Baby lover entertains baby...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Weekly Menu, 4/11-4/15/11

2011-04-11T08:24:00.005-05:00

Monday AM: organic apples slices, cheese cubes
Lunch: taco salad (grass fed beef, organic Romaine lettuce, shredded cheese, organic tortilla chips) PM: trifle: vanilla pudding, berries, yellow cake

Tuesday AM: oats/honey granola bar
Lunch: cheese lasagna, organic broccoli
PM: PB/Jelly sandwich (organic strawberry jam, organic peanut butter, multigrain bread)

Wednesday AM: clementine oranges, homemade corn muffin
Lunch: vegetable beef soup (organic pasta, grass fed beef, organic mixed veggies) PM: smoked wild salmon salad w/ crackers

Thursday AM: organic animal crackers, organic raisins
Lunch layered black bean enchiladas, roasted organic carrots
PM: organic hummus, pita chips

Friday AM: organic Zbars
Lunch: egg salad (organic eggs), gluten-free rice crackers, cherry tomatoes
PM: craisins, peanuts

Thursday, April 7, 2012

2011-04-07T21:28:00.001-05:00

The tree trimmers were fun to watch yesterday, and they left some mulch, too!

A little vitamin C in the morning...

Baby's view...

Brother and sister...

Can you hear his guttural scream? Boys love sticks. It's bigger than you. Teach them how to be with them responsibly. I've worked where kids aren't allowed to pick up the few stray sticks or rocks on a play yard for their own "safety"...so sad.

Reading in nature...little sister in pink joined big brother in blue!

Making rain sticks...

Dancing with said rain sticks...

Whittling?

Hours of climbing fun on a round bale feeder...

New friend!

Medics...

Trough=fun!

Hand feeding the goat...she was experimenting with which grasses he liked best.

Beautiful bouquet!

He was a sneaky spy all through Costco...he helps me haul in the grub most weeks.

Goodwill was singing to me like a Siren tonight. I heeded her call, and waiting for me inside the front door was this baby for our babies! The best $40 I think I've ever spent!

Look! Look! Watch for a new website and school sign soon! Thanks to Tom and Kiwe for understanding who we are and pulling it all together!

Thanks for supporting our Trike-A-Thon last year! You raised over $1000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

April 5, 2011

2011-04-05T18:34:00.001-05:00

Fairies and gnomes are everywhere around the farm! The kids are having a fun time finding them! Visiting the rabbits...

Big trees make big shadows...

"Curriculum" can happen anywhere...

A string of pegs...

Turning the garden over, and discovering some carrots...

Drawing...

Singing "Farmer in the Dell"...

The cheese stands alone (with Janie)...

Using a wreath as our puddle...jumping in and out of the puddle...

Saying "hi" to Missy Nancy at the Sassy Pea...

Watching as some surprise wire reels are delivered to be used as tables around the farm...

His friends put in him in jail, and he loved it...lots of developmentally appropriate good guy/bad guy play these days.

Now they are all locked up...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

April 4, 2011

2011-04-04T14:06:00.001-05:00

We welcome two new babies to our school--Wyatt and Kamila, siblings of Waylon and Kai, respectively. What an honor!

Wyatt...

Kamila...

Sweet boy...

Baking corn muffins for lunch...

Our theme for the next two weeks: Animals Awakening/Rain. How does Miss Andrea summon changes in the atmosphere? If she plans it, it never fails to come like our rain shower complete with lightening this morning!

New library books...

A most delicious lunch: black bean chili, cornbread, and cheese cubes.

Visiting with a new baby friend...

She found a crab spider...

Baby's eye view...

Cousins...

Chili faces!

Building with logs...

Tricycle tire blow-out...

Using a rope to pull the wagon..

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Weekly Menu, 4/4-4/8/11

2011-04-04T08:23:00.004-05:00

Monday
AM: sunrise energy bars (oatmeal, flax seed, dried fruit)
Lunch: homemade black bean chili, corn muffins, cheese cubes
PM: peanut butter banana smoothies (organic peanut butter, bananas, organic milk)

Tuesday
AM: sunshine dry cereal
Lunch: deli ham (nitrite/nitrate free), pita crisps, organic hummus, organic baby carrots
PM: organic apple wedges, organic peanut butter

Wednesday
AM: organic raisins, peanuts
Lunch: organic spaghetti w/ grass fed beef marinara, homemade organic breadsticks, organic applesauce
PM: organce slices, pretzels

Thursday
AM: organic Zbars
Lunch: cold Asian salad (organic quinoa, organic roasted chicken, organic broccoli)
PM: organic tortilla chips, salsa
Friday
AM: organic apple wedges
Lunch: white cheese pizza w/ organic spinach, organic mixed veggies
PM: cheese cubes, organic veggie sticks w/ homemade ranch dip

March 31, 2011

2011-04-01T07:48:00.001-05:00

Still busy preparing for this weekend's festival!

More mulching and moving rocks...

The cats still need us!

Walking and running the labyrinth...

Rope swing!

We made English muffin pizzas--they're always a hit.

Making ice cream...

Cracking pecans...

Building with logs and stumps...

Taking turns holding a baby with Barbra...

Random act of kindness...

Many of the children loved baby spinach salad with strawberries and Andrea's superb balsamic vinaigrette!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

2011-03-30T14:40:00.001-05:00

Learning to pet softly and not pull the cats tail...

Flying on bellies...

Dump trucks are popular...great for hauling mulch, too!

We stacked "logs" today...the kids were proud that they could lift them!

Ahhh...the reward after a hard day at work!

Pretty pots...

Opossum?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

2011-03-29T18:52:00.001-05:00

Happy Spring, complete with rain showers this evening!

The guy in the stripes walked around hugging his pals and telling them he loved them! It spread!

Toddlers tending the cats...

TransPreK spent the morning mulching in preparation for this weekend's festival!

Sassy Pea received a makeover this weekend! Way to go, Nancy!

Drumming...

Taking the slop to the pigs...jealous goat.

Driving...

Enjoying the sand...

A proud toddler, getting more sure of her steps!

PreK planted flowers for the festival...more to do tomorrow.

Fishing, she said...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Monday, March 28, 2011

2011-03-28T13:50:00.001-05:00

Today we unpacked some of the prizes and equipment for our festival this weekend. The bubble maker and mustaches were awesome!

Building a "farm" with blocks, animals, and a wooden house.

Sensory boxes full of pasta, rice, scoops and measuring cups...

Hammering...

She made a play stand into a car for her and her baby...

Mondays are for watercolor painting...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Weekly Menu, 3/28-4/1/11

2011-03-28T07:59:00.001-05:00

Monday
AM: bananas
Lunch: pasta w/ chicken, spinach, and Alfredo sauce, garlic bread (gluten-free pasta, organic spinach)
PM: bagels, organic cream cheese

Tuesday
AM: cantaloupe, organic animal crackers
Lunch: bean and cheese tostados, salsa, buttered organic corn
PM: Organic veggie sticks, homemade ranch dip

Wednesday
AM: organic apple slices, organic cinnamon crunch cereal
Lunch: BBQ turkey meatballs, steamed cauliflower and broccoli, homemade organic bread
PM: homemade guacamole, tortilla chips

Thursday
AM: pineapple, pretzels
Lunch: homemade pepperoni and cheese pizzas, organic spinach salad with organic strawberries and balsamic vinaigrette
PM: organic air popped popcorn, organic raisins

Friday
AM: oatmeal with brown sugar and organic milk
Lunch: cheese lasagna, tossed salad with ranch dressing
PM: goldfish crackers and peanuts

The last week or so...

2011-03-27T22:18:00.001-05:00

Current subject? Seeds and plants...

Some great books...thanks, Andrea!

Amazing PreK watercolor paintings...

Barbra's blueberry-banana purée was a delight!

Ready to blast into space on a log rocket!

Baby lunch bunch!

PreK enjoying the lasagna they made!

She saw a bowtie-shaped pasta and wanted it in her hair, and Miss Christin obliged!

They spent forever making smoothies with the blender!

Making their own beanstalks, complete with magic beans!

These feet. These short, wide shoes about to burst with a sock full of baby pudge. It delights me to no end.

Swinging...they make me say "rock and roll". OK, I will.

Teamwork...hauling rocks to line the rim of the labyrinth.

Just out driving the tractor...

Teacher and student enjoying one another...don't underestimate the interview question that goes something like "Do you find children intriguing?". Thanks, Melissa.

More work (play, engineering, teamwork) with logs...a seesaw?

She cares...everyday. Thank you, Ellen. Naptime...

Sillies! Note big brother holding sister. He loves to see her and help her at school...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Weekly Menu, 3/21-3/25/11

2011-03-22T08:04:00.002-05:00

Monday
AM: bananas
Lunch: homemade cheese lasagna, organic corn
PM: snack mix: peanuts, Goldfish crackers, pretzels, wheat cereal

Tuesday
AM: blueberry banana smoothies (organic blueberries)
Lunch: grass fed beef sliders, sweet potato fries
PM: pretzels, homemade ranch dip

Wednesday
AM: cantaloupe, organic animal crackers
Lunch: corned beef, roasted cabbage, homemade organic bread w/ organic butter
PM: cheese cubes, pita chips

Thursday
AM: pumpkin bread
Lunch: smoked salmon salad, rice crackers, organic green beans
PM: Pirate's Booty, peanuts

Friday
AM: organic Zbars
Lunch: beef vegetable soup, PB and jelly sandwiches (organic PB, organic jam)
PM: organic tortilla chips w/ homemade bean dip

Weekly Menu, 3/7-3/11/11

2011-03-07T13:27:00.005-06:00

Monday
AM: sunrise bars
Lunch: organic macaroni and cheese, organic mixed vegetables
PM: rice crackers, organic hummus

Tuesday
AM: peach smoothies (organic peaches, organic milk, whey powder), organic animal crackers
Lunch: mini veggie pizzas ( English muffins, organic tomato sauce, organic baby spinach, organic carrots, mozzarella cheese), organic applesauce
PM: peanuts, Goldfish crackers

Wednesday
AM: oat and honey granola bars
Lunch: barbecue chicken(organic chicken thighs, homemade barbecue sauce), organic green beans, homemade organic bread w/ organic butter
PM: organic baby carrots, homemade ranch dip

Thursday
AM: pineapple, organic dry cereal
Lunch: bean and cheese nachos (organic pinto beans, organic tortilla chips, Colby Jack cheese), banana half
PM: homemade blueberry muffins (gluten free) and blueberry corn muffins

Friday
AM: Greek yogurt w/ gluten-free granola
Lunch: homemade veggie beef soup (grass fed beef, organic mixed vegetables, organic tomato sauce, organic pasta), buttered multigrain bread

PM: snack mix: sesame sticks, dried plums, pretzel sticks

3/2/11

2011-03-02T15:51:00.001-06:00

What a beautiful sunny day! Everyone spent lots of time outside. Our giant trees provide a wonderful canopy under which to play!

Stringing pasta on pipe cleaners...

We made crowns and necklaces...

We made colored water, too. We froze yellow and blue cubes for a project later this week.

Cubing potatoes and peeling carrots for Irish stew...

Christin got out Mocha the rabbit...

They were really rocking on the seesaw!

Balancing on the wiggle boards...

Sonny the pig!

Fun on the petting farm field...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

March 1, 2011

2011-03-01T15:34:00.001-06:00

Happy March!

Here's a baby who spends his day using his body! No walkers, swings, or exersaucers here!

Happy girls!

Big sister visiting baby sister!

Even two year olds can peel clementines if we get them started (and give them the opportunity).

They loved the rainbow umbrella!

Construction (math skills).

Exploring new toys for rainbow week...

Getting ready for morning snack...

Girls with ponytails by Christin!

Beeswax modeling...from left to right, 2 rings, a tornado, and a dinosaur.

Drawing with giant twig crayons!

Chicken tacos and black beans...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Shamrocks and Rainbows

2011-02-28T21:36:00.001-06:00

Shamrocks and rainbows were everywhere today to welcome our new two-week thematic unit.

Harvested from our front flower beds...

A happy rainbow puzzle on the mantle with new library books...

Our flag whipping in today's wild wind...it may have been the last day of February, but we could feel March just on the other side of tonight waiting to ROAR in!

Sorting by color using tongs...

Chalkboard drawings...

PreK dyed pasta to be used this week...

More new books!

PreK painting rainbows with watercolors...

They were so proud to show off their drying artwork...

Making guacamole...

Pedaling...many miles are logged by the children going round and round this post!

Posing in front of the biggest rainbow at school!

They were driving a train down by the station, early in the morning no less...

Digging in the sun...(or activating their vitamin D while practicing fine and gross motor skills).

Balance beam...

Labyrinth...

We've missed the rope swing...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Menu, Week 2/28-3/4/11

2011-02-27T21:02:00.005-06:00

MondayAM: organic bananas
Lunch: lentil and beef nachos (grass fed beef, lentils, local tortilla chips, cheese), guacamole (organic avocados)
PM: snack mix: Goldfish crackers, almonds, organic raisins, dry cereal

TuesdayAM: clementine organges, rice cakes
Lunch: chicken soft tacos (free range chicken, local flour tortillas), organic black beans
PM: no-bake peanut butter/oatmeal cookies

WednesdayAM: fruit salad: organic kiwi, bananas, organic apples, pumpkin bread
Lunch: Irish stew (local grass fed beef, organic potatoes, organic carrots), homemade bread
PM: sesame sticks, organic raisins

ThursdayAM: organic granola and rice cereal, organic milk
Lunch: homemade cheese lasagna, applesauce
PM: gluten free apple/cinnamon muffins

FridayAM: organic apples, organic animal crackers
Lunch: pinto beans and organic brown rice w/ organic peas and organic carrots
PM: pretzels, dried plums

Flu Boo!

2011-02-23T19:36:00.003-06:00

Just a short note to say that we've been hit hard by the flu for the last two weeks. Teachers, administrators, staff children, and school families alike have gone down. We'll catch back up with pics and other good things when the proverbial smoke clears. Until then, we're focused on sanitizing, good clean food, lots of water, rest, and soaking up the sun as we can.

Think a good thought for us, and understand if it takes a little longer to respond to emails and special requests.

I sign this, "Currently in Good Health",

Leslie

Weekly Menu, 2/21-2/25/2011

2011-02-21T05:07:00.002-06:00

Monday
AM: rice cereal, organic milk
Lunch: pasta with lentil sauce (lentils, organic pasta sauce), organic pears
PM: organic carrots, organic celery, homemade organic French onion dip

Tuesday
AM: organic oatmeal with cinnamon and organic sugar
Lunch: bean burrito (local organic tortillas, homemade refried beans), Spanish brown rice
PM: organic crackers, cheddar cheese cubes and string cheese

Wednesday
AM: organic apples, homemade yogurt apple dip ( organic yogurt, honey, peanut butter)
Lunch: homemade Sloppy Joes ( grass fed local beef), homemade organic sandwich buns--kid made!, organic mixed vegetables
PM: organic cheese crackers, organic raisins

Thursday
AM: toasted organic English muffins with honey butter
Lunch: scrambled local eggs, roasted organic potatoes, apple sauce
PM: banana smoothies (bananas, organic vanilla yogurt, whey powder), rice cakes

Friday
AM: homemade apple-cinnamon muffins (gluten-free)
Lunch: homemade cheese pizza, tossed salad with vinaigrette
PM: organic animal crackers, organic apples

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T15:09:00.001-06:00

New chalkboard drawings awaiting us...

And new library books from the fairy named Andrea...

Friendship fruit salad with moms and baby siblings...

Painting...

PreK painted these...

She was happy to dressed up--"I'm pretty!".

A toddler flying on his belly at the swings...It's good not to always push them when they are at the swings for it develops the need to learn to pump one's legs as well the physical development necessary to do so.

Happy boy in the warm temps and the sunlight...

Friends writing together...

Sewing cards...fine motor skills of all sorts give way to writing when it's time.

"New" farm plates from Goodwill...they loved the cow!

May you know love every day!

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Menu, Week 2/14-2/18/11

2011-02-13T19:31:00.003-06:00

Monday
AM: friendship fruit salad: pineapple, mandarin oranges, peaches
Lunch: black bean nachos (black beans, organic tortilla chips, Colby Jack cheese), buttered organic corn
PM: banana, organic animal crackers

Tuesday
AM: waffles w/ cinnamon and organic sugar
Lunch: tuna salad, rice crackers and/or nut/rice crackers, buttered organic green beans
PM: string cheese, pretzels

Wednesday
AM: clementine oranges, apple cinnamon rice cakes
Lunch: homemade white cheese pizza (organic flour, garlic, organic olive oil, mozzarella cheese), organic apple wedges
PM: dried plums, buttered organic popcorn

Thursday
AM: gluten free banana muffins
Lunch: enchilada casserole (pinto beans, homemade organic enchilada sauce, corn tortillas, Colby Jack cheese), homemade guacamole
PM: organic yogurt w/organic granola

Friday
AM: rice cereal w/ milk
Lunch: broccoli-cheese quiche w/ potato crust (organic broccoli and potatoes, local eggs), applesauce
PM: Goldfish crackers and sunflower seeds

2011-02-09T15:23:00.001-06:00

Sensory boxes...

Learning to wrap and sling baby dolls...

Mamas with babies in slings...

Shaking cream to make butter...

Baking bread...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

2011-02-08T20:07:00.001-06:00

Brrr...the cold wind blew in today but we braved the outdoors!

I loved her poncho! She looks like a little lady who just returned home from running errands.

Busy babies!

Made a tent...

Basking in the sun...

A group of guys running around the porch post...kind of like a cat chasing its tail.

Sophia and Janie traded hats! Hannah thought it was pretty funny.

Sink baby...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Menu, 2/8-2/11/11

2011-02-08T05:15:00.002-06:00

Tuesday
AM: Organic Z bars
Lunch: chicken stirfry (organic chicken, vegetables, brown rice)
PM: pretzels, homemade ranch dip

Wednesday
AM: sunrise bars (oats, flaxseed, dried fruit)
Lunch: lasagna and organic breadsticks w/ butter (all kid-made, including the butter!!)
PM: dried plums ("prunes" HA!, or "big raisins" to the kids, limit 2 or 3), organic animal crackers
Thursday
AM: organic quinoa w/ rasperries and organic blueberries, Texas honey, organic milk
Lunch: grass fed beef meatloaf, organic green beans
PM: cheese cubes, Pirate's Booty

Friday
AM: Greek yogurt, organic granola
Lunch: curried rice w/lentils, Miss Andrea's fried beans and sweet potatoes
PM: rice crackers, organic hummus

CLOSURE

2011-02-04T05:35:00.003-06:00

Following the lead of Leander ISD, The Good Earth Day school will be closed today, Friday, February 4, 2011. We hope that everyone enjoys this rare occurrence and stays safe and warm at home with the children. We'll see everyone on Monday!

Two Hour Delay 2/4/11

2011-02-04T00:35:00.002-06:00

Following the lead of Leander ISD, The Good Earth Day School will open with a two hour delay on Friday, February 4, 2011. Children may be dropped off as early as 9:00 AM. Stay warm and enjoy the rare occurence of snow in Central Texas!

Thursday, 2/3/11

2011-02-03T21:29:00.003-06:00

Another wintery day with a two hour delayed opening. We still had fun, though we are missing all of our play, exercise, and the animals outdoors!

Andrea brought in some spare games...TransPreK friends matched pairs with the Memory game.

Tinkering...

Having fun making shadows with a flashlight...

Happy girl eating beans and brown rice...

Lunching Toddlers and Twos...

A large block of ice some of our PreK friends found in the pigs' water trough when feeding with Janie.

Silly girl before nap showing off her pacifier!

Starting to settle for nap...

Refreshed and reading...

Enjoying the light of a candle at lunch...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Two Hour Delay

2011-02-02T17:09:00.000-06:00

Following the lead of Leander ISD, The Good Earth Day School will be opening on a 2 hour delay tomorrow, Thursday, February 3, 2011. Children can be dropped off beginning at 9 AM. Stay warm tonight!

Diarrhea

2011-02-02T14:43:00.003-06:00

Kids know how to get what they need. Today, a hungry friend wanting to convince his teacher that he needed to eat early said, "I have diarrhea, so I need you to feed me pasta now!".

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

This Week, So Far, 1/31-2/2/11

2011-02-02T14:40:00.002-06:00

For the next two weeks we are considering flames and shadows. The children and their teachers are exploring grooming with combs, mirrors, lotion, and spray bottles of lavender water. We begin to think about a celebration of friendship on Valentine's Day with happy hearts on our windows...

Chatting...

Relaxing, in a dump truck of course!

Best friends taking turns pulling one another...

Some new chairs from Andrea gave rise to the construction of a choo choo train...creative children in nature. This is high level and cooperative learning, folks!! Kids parked in front of a television or computer for hours each day miss this!

Another birthday celebration! Lots of birthdays in January in February at farm school. I love hearing parents share a story or picture from each year of their child's life as we light the candles one by one...

Toddler/Twos reading group...

GEDS Beauty Shop in Transitional PreK...they are having a blast!

Christin is patient and brave...

"Footbath" with cotton balls...

Foot massages...

Ladies, then gentlemen, dicing potatoes to roast...their first lesson with a paring knife. You must demonstrate aptitude with butter knives first.

Barbra multitasks...she keeps her babies happy!

Lil' Mama..."When I see and feel nurturing, I nurture".

Story time before lunch on prepared nap nests...

A two year old setting the table proudly for her friends...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Ending this week...

2011-01-28T12:15:00.002-06:00

I am so busy each day and each week. Then, I take a few minutes to compile photos of what we see throughout the day. It may seem unimportant, but the natural light within our school, the wholesome food, the simplicity of our curricular experiences, the belief each day that a raucous group of children need to have a peaceful mid-day meal complete with cloth napkins and real plates--this makes me get up each morning proud of what our team does!

Collecting colorful items in nature, adding water, and freezing to hang outside another day...a rainbow sun catcher!

"Ice skating" in the classroom with skates made of wax paper and rubber bands...

Having fun with the marble run...

Cooking with a friend after lunch...

Cleaning up after lunch...children need to have this expectation, even if we have to go behind them!

Every day, our Toddler/Twos class takes their job of feeding the cats very seriously!

Tabi with the children at morning community time...

Thanks, mom, for making beautiful flannel napkins for the children to use at lunch each day! It may save paper, but more importantly it honors the children with lessons in civility. A bonus? With our new washer/dryer, the napkins need to be washed, then folded by the children each day.

Don't think that a child won't like roasted cauliflower...it was the first thing she ate, and it would be fair to say she "tore" into it!

Little ones at the labyrinth!

Cousins...

Beautiful. A little one helping a "littler" one put on her socks...we are a school family.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Weekly Menu, 1/31-2/4/11

2011-01-28T10:58:00.003-06:00

Monday
AM: orange slices, rice cakes
Lunch: homemade vegetable soup, corn muffins
PM: string cheese, pretzels

Tuesday
AM: bagels w/organic cream cheese
Lunch: veggie sticks w/organic ketchup, organic roasted potatoes
PM: organic raisins, Goldfish crackers

Wednesday
AM: organic apples, cheddar cheese cubes
Lunch: gluten-free pasta w/organic marinara sauce and local grass fed beef, homemade bread sticks
PM: organic celery, organic carrots, homemade ranch dip

Thursday
AM: organic vanilla yogurt w/organic granola
Lunch: brown rice w/ pinto beans, pineapple chunks
PM: homemade gluten-free "Chex" mix

Friday
AM: organic cinnamon crunch cereal, organic milk
Lunch: peanut butter and honey sandwiches on whole grain bread (organic flour), organic mixed vegetables
PM: air popped organic popcorn, almonds

Friday and Monday 1/21 and 1/24/11

2011-01-24T15:22:00.002-06:00

An almost 3 year old sweeping the floor excitedly to get the morning snack table ready for her PreK friends...

Painting with colored ice...

A baby joins the TransPreK class for Community Time...

More painting...

Making shepherd's pie...

A farm "stroller"...

Hauling eggs from farmer Deborah to Sassy Pea Market...

Having fun with the rope swing...

The labyrinth...

Wearing babies...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Menu, Week 1/24-1/28/11

2011-01-23T20:56:00.003-06:00

Monday
AM: organic granola, organic milk
Lunch: Shepherd's Pie (organic ground turkey, organic vegetables, cheese), organic applesauce
PM: snack mix: Goldfish crackers, dried apricots, Pirate's Booty, Amy's bunny snacks

Tuesday
AM: peanut butter and honey on rice cakes
Lunch: lentil nachos (lentils, lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese, tortilla chips)
PM: pretzels, peanuts

Wednesday
AM: bananas
Lunch: ham and cheese calzone (kid-made!), roasted cauliflower w/ Parmesan
PM: homemade bean dip, tortilla chips

Thursday
AM: homemade blueberry-banana muffins (gluten-free)
Lunch: curried meatballs (local grass-fed beef), coconut rice w/cranberries and cashews
PM: smoked wild salmon cream cheese, rice crackers

Friday
AM: dry organic raisin bran
Lunch: broccoli-cheese quiche (organic broccoli, yard eggs, cheese, potato crust), fruit salad
PM: sunflower seeds, veggie chips

More from this week, 1/17-1/21/11

2011-01-22T06:35:00.002-06:00

Good things happened out in nature!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

The Sun, the Sun, the Sun. ¡Ay Dios Mio! by Dio Miranda

2011-01-21T16:34:00.000-06:00

Not long ago, while looking for the best pediatrician for my soon-to-be-born daughter, I asked a “candidate” pediatrician what makes the “flu season”. The answer was, “Well, it means that a lot of people get the flu during those months”. For many, that’s still the answer. I actually was looking for a deeper answer, not just a smile and a dumb look. Unfortunately, doctors these days are not even trained to establish a relationship with families, let alone take time to discuss health in-depth. Maybe she just thought I was like many others and preferred not to hear the truth, choosing to live in ignorance.

In the meantime, this is my take on the flu season and why it happens during the same months each year. October is full of candies followed by stressful November where people are travelling to get together and give thanks. In late November, everyone begins to get ready for a beautiful December by spending money they don’t have for Christmas. December is about pleasing the family, friends, and those that need a little something, so before we know it we are giving too much—more than we have even at the physical level. If those stressors do not contribute to the flu through the amazing stress and overeating, then what does? Maybe we need a vaccine to control the candy-eating, over-planning, and general over-eating! I choose to pay attention to the meaning of the seasons and enjoy them that way.

At precisely the same time of year when we are too busy and eating too much, and possibly travelling and exposing ourselves to new germs, the days are shorter and we may not spend as much time in the sun—why does this matter and how does it relate to the flu season?

Don’t go out, don’t look at it, don’t feel it--the Sun is really dangerous! It is cancerous, it will make you age faster. (And, I say, there is no respect for the beauty of aging. A couple of wrinkles are sexy--you know that!) Think how lucrative it is for companies to sell you sun screens and anti-aging creams just to shield yourself and walk around on this planet every day.

In actuality, the Sun was once worshipped by numerous cultures throughout history because of its healing and therapeutic powers. Sadly, that is not the case today. Many fail to inform the public about the people that die and get sick from a lack of sun exposure! Doctors, the media, skin “experts” and those with other credentials to fool you! These people are misinformed and keep studying disease instead of the benefits of exposing yourself to nature. Exposure to the Sun regulates vitamin D levels, which is critical to your immune system.

The fear of sun exposure combined with the fact that many people now work indoors has contributed to a silent epidemic of vitamin D deficiency. The conservative estimate is that 70% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D. Recent evidence strongly suggests that if all Americans got enough sunshine, the number of cancers diagnosed each year would drop by 200,000 and the annual number of cancer deaths would drop by as much as 63,000. That’s just for the United States alone! A new study looked at data from 177 countries examining blood serum levels of vitamin D3, satellite measurements of sunshine and cloud cover, and breast and colon cancer rates. Researchers found that adequate sun exposure could prevent as many as 250,000 cases of colorectal cancer and 350,000 cases of breast cancer annually around the world. That’s 600,000 more cancer-free people!

If you’ve been avoiding the sun because you’re afraid of getting skin cancer, you’re actually doing yourself more harm than good. That’s because sunlight is your best source of vitamin D, which is produced naturally when the sun’s rays touch your skin. Vitamin D is essential for your health and for the proper functioning of your organs and cells. Lack of vitamin D will leave you vulnerable to a number of chronic diseases, including:

• 16 types of internal cancer
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Hypertension
• Multiple sclerosis
• Osteoporosis
• Psoriasis
• Ricketts
• Schizophrenia
• Tuberculosis and,
• Myopathy- just worked with someone that had this disease and it is not a pretty picture.

There are no simple guidelines that will tell you how much sun you actually need because it depends on your skin tone. The amount of sun exposure Caucasians need differs from that of African-Americans or Asians because the darker your skin is, the less likely it is that you will produce adequate vitamin D levels from sun exposure alone. You also can’t rely solely on oral vitamin D supplements because taking a vitamin D capsule is not the same as getting vitamin D the way your body was designed to produce it – by getting sunlight to strike your uncovered skin. Vitamin D is not made in a lab!

I am here to say that the Sun is actually good for YOU. I know that over exposure to the Sun can cause harmful effects on your beautiful skin, but it will hurt more to not go out for at least 15 minutes a day. This, of course will vary due to ethnicity.
Go out to the Sun and investigate it! Take some time today and play outside with your kids. Leave the fear that has been planted behind and enjoy life. Live freely! And, you will stop the epidemic of lack of vitamin D. You know, many times I MIGHT Sound arrogant when I try to make you aware of things, and many feel offended when I asked questions that to me are basic--they should be to you as well. Did you drink water today? How is your sleep? Do you play or exercise outside? I ask all of these questions of people when they come to me with pain, musculoskeletal dysfunctions, skin problems, constipation, etc. This train of thought comes from the simplicity of living well. I am trying to help you wake up from your numbness!

Now, lets do the challenge. By this time, if you have been reading my articles you should have a pretty good idea of how your body functions and that the main reason for communicating with you is because I care. Email with questions about my articles and I will answer you directly with my intention being to establish a healthy YOU.

Migdoel “Dio” Miranda
CHEK III
HLC II
Advanced Metabolic Typing Advisor

Thursday, 1/20/11

2011-01-20T15:32:00.003-06:00

Warmer weather and a rain shower as school opened gave way to a blast of cold air and wind! The farm became frigid, but most classes managed to sneak outside long enough to do their farm chores.

Snowflakes on the chalkboard and pipe cleaner icicles on the mantle...

Scooping snowballs (cotton balls)...

Thursdays are for tea..."Cozy Chamomile" today.

Working on pipe cleaner snowflakes and icicles with Andrea...

Toddlers and sensory boxes...pasta/dry beans and animals/snow (salt)...

Peeling carrots...we gave the rabbits all the peels.

Ready to roast...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Tuesday and Wednesday, 1/28-1/19/11

2011-01-19T14:55:00.002-06:00

Chopping peppers for dirty rice...don't be alarmed. It's a butter knife.

Playdough...

Washing the table after morning snack...

Animals in the snow(salt)...

Changing the baby doll's diaper...the felt board became a changing pad.

An upside down wagon becomes a boat...

An upside down bike becomes an ice cream maker...

Yahoo! Our new washer/dryer!

They are proud of their tower!

Working together with ropes to carry a log!

Small group time after nap, reading then playing with our rabbit Mocha...

Kneading bread...

Rainbow blocks and puzzles...beautiful sunshine!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Have a happy day!

Friday 1/14/11

2011-01-17T20:46:00.004-06:00

Being a good dad...

Bear masks...that crafty Christin!
Painting snow and snowflakes on the windows in preparation for next week's plan...

See You Later Alligators

2011-01-15T14:54:00.007-06:00

In case anyone has the illusion that the owner of a preschool has the answer to every child and family question, and that her own family skips through fields of lavender giggling each weekend, let me be the first to tell you that's not the case.

This year, one goal I have for my family is to find more time to be with one another in a positive way. My kids are now 10 1/2, 7, and 4 1/2. They have responsibilities at home. They can do a lot for themselves--actually, it's amazing what they can do. My husband and I still do a lot for them, too, willingly. We don't have chore charts, though our chores and routines are well known to the children. There's no allowance, as I think that doing your part in the family should come from a benevolent place, not just to get a five dollar bill. That may change some day, but for now that's my stance.

This morning, after a rainy, cold week, my kids certainly had a bit of cabin fever. They fought, they pinched, they laughed, they cried, "he" hit his sisters with a stick, "she" raced to spite her sister by turning off the tv first, the other "she" pretended she couldn't put on her clothes though she makes a mean cup of coffee and can expertly scramble six eggs. My cabin fever met their's, as well as a back yard to rid of puppy poop, and a husband who had a couple hours of work to do... I'm sorry to say it was a recipe for disaster.

No going to pick out paint for my daughter's bedroom, no making rice crispy treats, no reading library books for as long as they wanted me to. All of my plans for us were suddenly destroyed by my desire not to fight my way through it.

Maybe I failed, but I had no patience left. No time to explain why I made what I did for breakfast. No time to discuss again why some people eat rabbits. No time to convince them that they were going to crack their heads open jumping from the furniture to the concrete floors. (Did I mention that my four year old son tried his hand at shaving yesterday with me just steps away? I am a bit rattled.)

So, I called my mom. I told her I couldn't take care of my kids today, if she and my dad didn't have plans and could help me out. I dropped them off after a tearful discussion about what kind of mom I want to be to them when we are together. I told them to make a plan for how to pick up their dog's poop diligently and that if they could just keep their rooms relatively clean, we would have more time for the good stuff. The happy times.

I miss them and they are fine. I am, too. Maybe we all just needed space. Maybe I need to do this more often instead of trudging through the hard times trying to make it "fun".

~Leslie