I haven’t been playing a lot of music these days, but the one time I always do get out my guitar is during my daughter’s baths. I remember how my mom would always sit on the toilet seat with her guitar and serenade me while I was in the tub, and I feel called to…
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Pasta Sauce in Glass or Plastic: Which to Choose?
The pasta sauce selection is pretty big in most American supermarkets. While I don’t often go looking for this item, preferring to make my own sauces when I can, there are times when the convenience of that jar of tomato sauce to put over my ravioli or spaghetti beckons. I first look to the ingredients…
Veggies First
It used to be that when thinking of what to have for dinner, I would think first about what protein, or what grain or bread product, to prepare. I know that for many Americans, the tendency is to think about what meat—as in, “What’s for dinner?” “Pork chops.” Or, “We’re having hamburgers for dinner.” But…
Why Unschooling?
Our new lifestyle of homeschooling (and under that official umbrella, unschooling) is in some ways influenced by my own school experiences, which were fairly competitive and intense. With the exception of music, foreign languages, and sometimes math and science, I did not enjoy any of my classes in high school. And yet, nearly all of…
Linking Thermostat and Weather
On a cold day like today, I am reminded of something that I’ve been thinking of on and off — a practice that seems intuitive to me, but I think is not widely used: adjusting one’s thermostat based on outside temperature. Now, clearly people do this to some extent, for instance, in the fall, waiting…
Wearing Something Out
I love the feeling of getting every last bit out of a jar, or a toothpaste tube, or of wearing a piece of clothing out. In that moment, I honor the life of the thing that is expiring, appreciating the gift of utility it has granted me. I feel that I, too, have been useful,…
Sassafras Homeschool
I recently officially opened a homeschool for my daughter under the name Sassafras Homeschool (sassafras…there is a leaf with varied shapes, varied possibilities). I have been learning more about unschooling recently, and since our return from our travels last year, June has been attending a program called ZigZag several days a week, which is a…
Microwave
We have not had a microwave since we moved to our new house, and while I am occasionally reminded of the absence of this appliance, most of the time, I don’t miss it. I have an electric tea kettle to heat up water when I need, and can heat up leftover food on the stove…
Blog Intentions
In the spirit of bricolage, a creative making do with whatever is at hand, I am going to be writing in this blog about anything that feels important or seems interesting to share. Some of the topics I have been thinking about lately include unschooling, packaging waste, and cooking. Read more of my thoughts on…