A Place to Dream and a Place for Knowledge

Bedrooms are a sanctuary to souls. I've always believed that my daughter's bedrooms were their own place to escape into their dream worlds. Each of their bedrooms are decorated so differently - both with antiques and a touch of their mama's love for vintage style, but each their own space. They both have a bookcase that holds their 'very favorites' - too favorite to even go on our chapter book library in the playroom. I bought them the same cream iron beds when they were each old enough to leave the crib. I wanted consistency in our upstairs. And I still love that part.



This summer Anna is taking a class through Boston College. She's a junior but after all of that 'distance learning' she really wanted to continue to stretch and grow her mind this summer. We looked into all of the options and BC had the best program for summer enrichment. She's taking a psychology class and has been fascinated by what she is learning. It's a wonderful introduction and goes into depth looking at what a psychologist can do - from working with patients, to research, etc. Of course it's all on line. She 'attends' lectures and there are live 'workshops' where she is working in a small group with students across the country.

I love when she fills us in on what she is learning. Yesterday it was all about memory and how really (I'm putting this simply) we're only remembering the memory, not the actual event. She's filled our home with so much wisdom through what she is learning.



When 'distance learning' (the school year) ended I wanted to do a deep clean of her bedroom before this class started. She has spent so much time in this room especially when it's time for a live lecture to begin. And I wanted to take a few pictures to 'remember' the memory of what her room looked like - like a snapshot frozen in time.



Anna is a deep thinker - a dreamer for sure. She's filled countless diaries at that writing desk. She started writing in a diary when she was 7 years old and I taught her how to write down her experiences, her feelings, her memories. She also writes chapter books - huge, long chapter books right there in that room. I love that this small space, this bedroom is a place where all of that can happen for her. I love what God is doing - what He is fashioning - what He is creating through our daughter Anna.









I'm so proud of Anna and her love of knowledge - she's been a wonderful person to be around this summer. I just love my time with her. ❤

Tea Time Menu

Explanation of Tea Time is back here 





This week I served:



Quiche 



Red Velvet Heart Scones 



Chocolate Chip Cookie Mini Pies 



Paired with Spring Tea and 



Harney and Sons Chocolate Chai Tea 







The quiche was something new - I loved having it as our 'main'. It is delicate and lovely.
I've done a new scone recipe every single week in search for the perfect one for us - we loved this one
The chocolate cookie pies were crispy and flaky and chewy on then inside, such a treat!

Other tea menu posts are here and here and here and here and here and here and here  and  here  and here 

Things We'll Keep (3) - The Comfort of Together and Food

Oh goodness - I started these posts back here. Basically I've been noticing some things that we've been doing as a family since school stopped mid March. Some are things that just won't fit when life is fully opened up but some we've decided no matter what we'll be keeping. This is the 3rd I've shared on my blog. 

To me there is something cozy about things that take a while to cook. I love that dough has to rise. I love that sauce has to simmer for hours to thicken. It just feels homey that way.

So every Friday night since March 13 this is what we've done. And I'm quite certain that we'll do this forever (I'll just have to be more creative and make the dough and sauce on a Thursday evening once school starts in the fall.

It's simple really -- I made the homemade pizza dough. It rises for 2 hours.



I make the sauce. It simmers for 3 hours.



Scott creates the magic with it.



Sometimes pizza - sometimes pizza breads







Lately, we've really been loving pizza breads the most!

spinach and potato

bell peppers and onion

pepperoni of course





Then we all sit in the family room with a movie. I cover the coffee table with an oil cloth and we line up our plates, the warm sauce in cups, something yummy to drink... We've been taking turns picking since March 13 which has been fun!

Some of the movies/shows we've watched:

Back to the Future (daddy's pick)
National Treasure II (family pick)
Lady and the Tramp, live action (family pick)
Mary Poppins Returns (mama's pick)
Princess Bride (daddy's pick)
The Tale of Two Critters (mama's pick)
Hallmark Christmas movie (anna's pick)
Onward (Abigail's pick)
Mickey Mouse Cartoons (anna's pick)

There is no doubt that something that takes a lot of time of simmer, to rise, to craft tastes better to us. For some idealistic, romantic reason it is what makes this Friday evening meal so good. Not just so good because it 'tastes' so good. But so good for our souls once again to be connected. Right now {and during the distance learning season that was} we were already together all day, every day but I imagine that when we are back at school - this meal will be even more important to our family. And I plan on doing whatever I need to do to make it happen.

Our Summer Days

"Sometimes I fancy we do not always appreciate the value of work and how dry and flavorless life would be without it. If work were taken from us, we would lose rest also, for how could we rest unless we first became tired from working? Leisure would mean nothing to us for it would not be a prize to be won by effort and so would be valueless" Laura Ingalls Wilder

I need to set up this post a bit.

I believe in relaxing in the summer.

I believe in having my girls play without end in the summer.

I believe in reading until you want to stop.

I believe in a spontaneous afternoon movie on the couch with my girls.

I believe in long days with 'nothing' to do and doing everything you want to do.

With that said...

At the start of each summer we sit down as a family to discuss the summer.

This summer it felts especially important because it is the first summer we are not going away. Sigh...  traveling is very challenging for our family under the best circumstances. Abigail can eat nothing unless it is cooked by me. When she orders from a restaurant she can only order rice, pasta, plain chicken or steak. Nothing else. Sometimes if we're lucky, bread. So basically we are not an eating out family. However we don't let that stop us from traveling or stop Abigail from having a full life experience - and travel is part of that. Anna has some challenges with travel as well as she deals with sensory integration disorder. So when we choose to travel each summer we already have to take a lot into consideration. And we choose to travel to show them that nothing should stop them from a full, lovely life. However, adding in Covid 19 this year... we honestly are just not comfortable traveling. We have a lifetime of summer adventures traveling so I have finally found a peace in his 'new kind of' summer {it certainly took me a long time}

So this summer I wanted to brainstorm with the girls a really simple list or sketch of our at home, nothing on the calendar days. {basically all of the days til September} Although we love to relax {see above} we need a bit of structure in our days. Not all children do. Not all families do. We do.

Reason #1
The girls and I always 'feel better' when we get a few things done. The relaxing just feels better that way. (see quote above)

Reason #2
We do have dreams for all of these weeks and months off. We are idealistic and dreamers. I have tea parties and Bible studies with my girls that dreaming about have actually 'gotten me through' this school year. Making these dreams happen takes a bit of planning. There is still dinner to cook, laundry to do, a bit of cleaning here and there. There is a little yellow bird in our living room to take care of. So to fit in the 'dreams' we all have having a Summer Days List helps us to get those 'must dos' done so there are more time for dreams.

Reason #3
We have goals for all of these weeks and months off. There are things that we all individually and as a family want to accomplish. Abigail wants to get into the next level of the Suzuki orchestra. That doesn't just happen. It takes a bit of focused practice in the summer. Anna will be taking a college class through Boston College. That doesn't just happen. She'll need to log in, participate in the classes and do the work. I want to revamp our 4th grade spelling program during the summer so we're ready to go in the fall. That doesn't just happen. It take a bit here and there. We have gardening goals and fence painting goals. We have house projects and those don't just happen. So getting our 'must dos' allows us more time for goals.

Reason #4
Some day when my girls all adults they will need to find a way to get some things done. Even when their dreams and goals are calling them - I want them to know there is time for everything. Just not all at the same time. By finding a way to work through the regular things that are part of life quickly and efficiently there will always be time for dreams. Doing this Summer Days List each summer has really helped to show them a way that works.

So this is how we do it - - the Summer Days List needs to come from them, not from me or from Scott. We can suggest and guide but the whole set up needs to be from them.

So our lists are all set. There are three sections.

Section #1
These are the things that must be done each day no matter what. They are not chores, they are responsibilities. There are no screens until they are done. Period. That is our family rule.

Section #2
These are some goals. They might be on a screen before them but they need to be a daily part of life.
This year I moved Bible time to this second section. My daughters are older now and I want them to have their own goals. They know that summer is the best time for us to ponder who God is - how He behaves - what are His words. It is time with God that they can find their own heart within theology.

Section #3
Getting through the first section of their Summer Days List doesn't mean screen time unlimited. I wanted them to have a list of things they like to do both independently and together that do not involve screens. Almost like little reminders... "oh yeah, I forgot I wanted to do that craft..."

One last idea - flexibility
These lists are only Monday-Friday. Weekends are off. I like a chill weekend and 'ahh it's Monday, let's be a little more productive' feeling.
Also, since the list is only one week at a time, we are flexible and these lists will adjust as the weeks go on.

I share their lists with a bit of trepidation. I wasn't sure I really wanted to - it is their list out of a lot of discussion and thought and conversation. Really, my hope for this post it to share the 'idea' behind the list - with that said, just in case they want to see their list from the summer they were 17 and 13... 





I've always loved lists, plans, being organized. Being so idealistic and dreamy I've had to use a planner to hold it all for me. I want to have a Friendship Bible Study with all of the verses I've been collecting all year to teach my daughters about friendship but I still need to call the orthodontist. My planner keeps it all organized for me.



"Sometimes I fancy we do not always appreciate the value of work and how dry and flavorless life would be without it. If work were taken from us, we would lose rest also, for how could we rest unless we first became tired from working? Leisure would mean nothing to us for it would not be a prize to be won by effort and so would be valueless" Laura Ingalls Wilder

Magic

The magic of childhood is real and present in our hearts. I believe it is so lovely to keep that childlike wonder, full of dreams and simplicity in our lives daily, and never let it die with silly age. With that wonderment, we will always have magic, Santa, fairies in the back of our minds, and a welcoming, magical place to come home to. 

Father's Day

Father's Day this year consisted of:

Our time in the garden - Sunday morning date (explained back here)

Mass at home

Tea Time (back here)

And then we drove to my parents, visited in the front lawn - and I forgot to take any pictures of my Dad and his pie!

Then presents at home for Scott and a really yummy dinner.

I am grateful for so many things in my husband. Today I was especially grateful for his fathering our two little girls.

I'm grateful for his presence.

I'm grateful for his leading in ideas.

I'm grateful for discussions.

I could not have imagined our journey and all it would be and require, but so grateful for my wonderful Scott.

Brunch Tea Time Menu

Home is the center of life where we have the capacity to create deep needs and deep longings will be met and we will be able to give them a place where they can grow and become and belong.



Steak & Onion Bridies 





Oat & Wheat Scones 





Strawberry Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting 

Our First Day of Summer

We decided to go on a picnic today -- it was our first time really getting out since Covid -19 started. We really needed to celebrate getting through Distance Learning and the start of summer.

It really was a beautiful way to start our summer together.

Of course as a romantic, always, I wanted to bring a pie. A pie to a picnic just seemed perfection to me.



It was my first blueberry pie of the summer season. It came out of the oven bubbling hot and smelling oh so good.



This pie cooling window has been waiting for this all year.



We drove to a really pretty park and sat on a pink quilt to enjoy sandwiches and pie.

















And then we took a walk in the woods and down to the river.











It was the perfect way to start our summer. Just us, peaceful, relaxed, yummy.

Happy summer!