Pluviophile: Any organism that thrives in conditions of heavy rainfall. One who loves rain; a rain-lover. Surprise, surprise… this Oregonian loves rain. And what pairs better with a romantic, gray …
Blog Posts
When it comes to Easter, we’re not really bunny and egg folk– though I dig a yolky Cadbury Creme Egg as much as more than the next guy. Still, we have one …
Happy Holy Week! Sunday was Palm Sunday; Holy Thursday, Passover, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday are later this week. Accordingly, for this week’s What to Read Wednesday I’m sharing our …
We were blessed to take a wee homeschool field trip with some visiting Montana friends recently, zipping north to rendezvous in bustling Portland where we discovered a hidden oasis amid …
Happy What to Read Wednesday! This week we’re talking about Mythology. When we studied ancient Greece for homeschool history we took an epic side journey into mythology, and lingered there for …
Surest Signals of Springtime– Crocus cups and croaking frogs; daffodils, tulips, and cherry blossoms. Babbling brooks, bunnies, and a bevy of birds; creeping caterpillars and clumsy calves. Conflict of compulsions …
It’s that time of year again, when nearly every American enthusiastically claims some fraction of Irish lineage. I’ve always believed myself to be of mostly Scottish (by way of Canada) …
This week’s official WTRW theme is monsters, but that’s not really our jam, and since we’ve no shortage of books in both our currently reading and to be read stacks, I’ll simply …
Warning! File this under the label: Topics Devoid of Even the Slightest Semblance of Eternal Significance, and brace your haughty eyes. I love the Oscars. With mere minutes until the ceremony …
As I mentioned in my last post, we’ve just returned from a little trek down the freeway to sunny California. Good golly, five persons in a Jeep for two thousand …
This week’s WTRW is a day late, because we’ve just returned from an extended literary field trip of sorts. Namely, a road trip to California wherein we once again visited …
Warning: Nostalgia alert! Do these glistening, golden spines transport you right back to your youth? Little Golden Books are a timeless fixture of many a childhood. Goldilocks and the Three …
Xin Nian Kaui Le! We rang in the Year of the Dog last night with a proper Chinese feast. As a bi-racial, adoptive family it’s important for us to honor …
It’s a full week of holidays: Abe Lincoln’s 209th birthday was Monday, Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) yesterday, and Chinese New Year is Friday. Firstborn found the baby Jesus in the …
Who’s excited for the Olympics? We are! The Winter Games commenced last night, but we’re especially excited for the Parade of Nations in the opening ceremonies tonight. Feeling internationally inspired, …
For this week’s WTRW theme we’re traveling ’round the world to India. It seems particularly poignant to focus on international titles as the Winter Olympic Games officially start TOMORROW! #ColorMeEcstatic …
On Gobbler’s Knob, bright and early this morning, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and officially declared six more weeks of winter. I’ve got chocolate pudding cups & teddy grahams at …
This week’s WTRW theme features Little Man’s very favorite animal… the panda! We have a plentiful plethora of pandas in our house, from tshirts to stuffies, mainly because –like Little …
Did you know? Today is Multicultural Children’s Book Day! Despite missing a year, I’m positively delighted to be participating once again by formally reviewing the most beautiful book… Getting quality, …
A group of kangaroos is a mob, a group of primates is a troop, a group of otters is a romp, and a group of penguins is a waddle. (see …
In honor of Monday’s Martin Luther King, Jr. day, this week’s WTRW is focused squarely on human rights. Human rights: Moral principles or norms that describe certain standards of human …
I’m pretty proud of Firstborn for submitting an essay into the Humane Society’s annual contest. Though her entry wasn’t selected as one of the winners, it’s [she’s] a winner in …
In my What To Read Wednesday post all about tigers, I mentioned my family pet a baby tiger cub recently… but then it dawned on me I never shared the …
This week’s What to Read Wednesday is all about tigers. It’s timely, as we recently wrapped zoology studies on Feliforms. We appreciate tigers as much as the next family, and …
I’ve been waiting all year for this installment of WTRW… We’re a bi-racial, adoptive, globally-minded family aiming to instill pride in our varied heritage. We incorporate traditions, customs, and celebrations …
One year ago today we were still hibernating from the cold Montana winter, still reeling from the loss of my grandmother, and bracing ourselves for the impending loss of Husband’s …
Today, for this post-Christmas What To Read Wednesday, I’m sharing a small sampling of titles that my family exchanged as Christmas gifts. Perhaps we are Icelandic at heart? In preparation …
Karen Carpenter was right, there’s no place like home for the holidays. This was our first Christmas back in our home state, after five years introverting in Montana. Even more …
This week’s official WTRW theme is all about owls, but seeing as how Christmas is right around the corner I decided to be a maverick and go rouge on that …
This week’s WTRW theme is all about Royalty. While I enjoy binging episodes of The Crown or The Tudors as much as the next anglophile, and I’m certainly happy for …
Advent: from the Latin “adventus” (arrival); from “advenire”, ad (to) +venire (come) Ooooooh tannenbaum… I’ve got a December bucket-list a mile long. Husband keeps gently reminding me we needn’t exhaust …
The rest of the WTRW crew is sharing titles on the topic of manners this week, but seeing as how today’s Saint Nicholas Day I figured they’d forgive my deviation… …
It seems Oregon’s the land of plenty when it comes to field-trips; there’s no shortage of adventure and extracurricular opportunity– only lack of sufficient time to squeeze it all onto …
Forgive me for being tardy with this week’s WTRW edition, but my current read (a gripping new science-fiction stolen from Husband’s stack) has me in it’s grips and actively shirking …
Friends near and far are forever asking for recommendations when planning a visit to foodie-mecca Portlandia… strong coffee, craft beer, gourmet donuts, robust wine, and food-trucks– there are almost too …
We gave thanks and feasted yesterday, as per tradition… Thanksgiving has quietly become one of my favorite holidays– all casual comfort and nourishment, without fuss or pretention. Even the kids …
This week’s What to Read Wednesday is a bit of a cornucopia. Alongside Pilgrims, Native Americans, Turkeys, and the Mayflower, I’m including a formal review of Jess Ronne’s poignant memoir, …
If you enjoy turkey/cran sammies on repeat for a week, post-Thanksgiving, go ahead and look away now. The rest of y’all? Listen up. We leave nothing to chance and are …
Greetings and warm, bookwormy salutations from this monogamous, altruistic, extroverted introvert of a reader… How ’bout you? Comment below! Folk tale: A story originating in popular culture, typically passed on …
Alongside some online pals I admire, I’m blogging through the alphabet– this week we’re focused on the letter E. In our homeschool, E is for Energy & Encouragement. I’m not …
This week Little Man had his annual well-check with his primary-care physician (he remains quite tall for his age & is expected to exceed even his Daddy in height– take …
In my haste to usher in Fall, I neglected to bid a proper farewell to what was arguably our most exciting, action-packed summer to date… “All in all, it was …
This week’s What to Read Wednesday’s a wee bit tardy, due to our post Halloween sugar crash. Coincidentally, our theme is all about nature— which makes this earth muffin especially …
We started planning for Halloween months ago. Our first back in Oregon, we knew we’d be coordinating a group theme with the cousins and spend it with our entire extended …
Fret not, Last-Minute Loo’s: Dress-up is my jam and our costume bin overfloweth. The following’s a non-exhaustive, off-the-cuff list of creative costumes that can easily be pulled together from most …
This week’s What to Read Wednesday theme is hobbies. My favorite hobby? Reading! (obvi) Besides, I’m also blogging through the alphabet with online pal Hopkins Homeschool, and this week we’re …
It is good to live in a fertile valley where one can gather wild blackberries from the briar, forage for chestnuts, fill baskets of apples from the orchard, chop down …
The best things in life are free… at least when it comes to fall décor. Each autumn I seek out the nearest chestnut tree fixin’ to add fallish charm to …
This week’s What to Read Wednesday is all about seasons. I’m fickle when it comes to weather… a fan of changing seasons, grateful to live in a valley that so …
I’ve been blogging through the alphabet with several online homeschool chums since Spring. They’re at it all over again this Fall, but that gives me the perfect opportunity to wrap …
Sometimes I joke that we really moved back to Oregon for the fresh, local produce. This summer we picked our fair share of berries, and now that autumn’s here it’s …
This week’s What to Read Wednesday is all about fire safety. It’s a timely topic as I recently took the kiddos to a fun public safety fair at the local …
We love autumn. We love astronomy. We love traditions and holidays. We love learning about other cultures, Little Man’s Asian heritage, and we love any excuse to celebrate. The monstrous, orange-tinged …
This week’s What to Read Wednesday theme is supposed to be all about gorillas. Though Husband and I just watched the latest Planet of the Apes film, and though we …
Calling all bushwackers! One needn’t venture abroad in head to toe khaki to experience a real-live safari excursion through herds of exotic animals. At Wildlife Safari in southern Oregon Husband …
This week’s What to Read Wednesday theme’s supposed to be all about war, but I deviated just a smidge, focusing instead on literature featuring fictional skirmishes and battles rather than …
Strike up the polka band and dust off your drindle– recent revelry at the Mt. Angel Oktoberfest filled my multi-cultural-loving heart to capacity as the girls and I posed as …
School’s in session, the rain’s finally arrived, and today’s the autumn equinox. Break out your boots and the pumpkin spice, ’cause it’s fall y’all! “Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that …
Wherefore art thou Shakespeare? This week’s What to Read Wednesday theme is all about Stratford-upon-Avon’s most famous citizen. I’ll spare my feeble attempt at iambic pentameter, and instead simply share …
Ah the glorious Oregon coast… moody, romantic, tumultuous yet serene. Five years in a landlocked state gave me a better appreciation for the blessing I took for granted my entire …
All Oregonians are tree-hugging hippies, right? Not entirely. Still… this family loves us some towering conifers, especially after living away from them for five years. Naturally, we were over the …
This week’s What to Read Wednesday is all about dInOsAuRs! My family just had a close encounter with some over the weekend… Our home library contains a classic sing-songy Cat …
For the first time since we started this homeschooling adventure four years ago, we took a true summer off. It wasn’t really on purpose, I’m still all for year-round school …
This week’s What to Read Wednesday installment is all about families. Our favorite books on family include classics such as: The industrious pioneer family Ingalls of the Little House series, …
Oregon’s is the only state fair I’ve ever attended, but I still suspect it’s the best. Until last week it’d actually been at least seven years since we’d attended the …
All children are naturally little scientists. Scientist: A person engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge that describes and predicts the natural world. I shared my favorite Science-themed books …
Know Thyself… To thine own self be true… Identity… Besides being a frumpy, perma-exhausted homeschool mom of three, I’m an extroverted, Highly Sensitive Person, Meyers-Briggs ESFJ, Enneagram 8, whose primary …
I’m spoiled. Having grown up here in Oregon, it wasn’t until my family moved away for five years that I came to appreciate what a rich oasis it truly is– …
This week’s What to Read Wednesday installment is in the same back-to-school vein as last week’s: Last week, math; this week, Science! In actuality, I could double down by utilizing …
I’m Blogging Through the Alphabet with a few online pals. This week we’re on the letter C… a / b / c / d / e / f / g / …
I’m just going to come right out and say it: Math is not my favorite. I’m a bookworm, more inclined towards language than arithmetic. Nevertheless, I’ve bred with a veritable …
This summer we’re delighting in our gorgeous, green home-state of Oregon. After five years away, we relish the familiar splendor through new, appreciative eyes. I shared already about our favorite hike to a hidden mountaintop …
This week’s What to Read Wednesday theme is kindness. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, KINDNESS… Upon racking my brain I could think of no better title …
It’s good to be an Oregonian again. Between ambitious home-improvement projects, swim lessons & drama camp, playdates & birthday parties we’ve been ardently adventuring in our old stomping grounds this summer. I’m dedicating a little space here …
Word on the street is that yoga pants are the new denim jumper, but I did just happen to buy a darling denim dress from Old Navy clearance last week… OHMYGOSHWHATISHAPPENING This week’s What …
All the world’s a stage, and all the men & women merely players… Perhaps it comes as no surprise that my offspring tends to have an innate flair for drama? Our …
I’m fired. Stella just can’t seem to get her groove back, y’all. What with our ongoing house renovations, shuttling the girls to and fro drama camp, Little Man’s fifth birthday, cousin camp …
Five years ago, a courageous (and obviously beautiful) woman laboriously welcomed a precious bundle into the world– then took drastic, sacrificial measures to preserve his life. Today & always I’m grateful …
I’m blogging through the alphabet with A Net in Time & Hopkins Homeschool… this week we’ve made it to the letter Z! Obviously in our house Z is for Zoology. a / …
You might recall our family’s big spring/summer project has been renovating a neglected 1970’s rambling rancher right next door to my sister. We’re settled in now and have been chugging along …
This week’s What to Read Wednesday is woefully tardy… ironically because I’m presently swept up in a book series. #BookwormProbs My advice for boredom busting road-trip lit is to grab …
I’m blogging through the alphabet with fellow homeschoolers online; this week we’re on the letter Y. In our homeschool, Y is for Yarn… a / b / c / d …
This week’s What to Read Wednesday theme is elephants. It was an easy one for me, since I grew up on the Saggy Baggy Elephant, Babar, Dumbo and Horton. Like I mentioned …
Yesterday we celebrated the US of A’s Independence Day. As a mother to and daughter of immigrants (by way of China and Canada, respectively) I’m especially grateful to reside in …
I’m blogging through the alphabet with A Net in Time & Hopkins Homeschool, and all the way to the letter X. In our homeschool X is for eXtracurricular activities. a / b …
“In the great green room there was a telephone, and a red balloon, and a picture of a cow jumping over the moon…” There are a few classic books that …
…. play that music too loud, we don’t like to go-o-o out… Finally. We’ve settled in and construction’s ceased for a spell at our new radical ranch remodel. We’re taking …
We’re nearing the end of a fun Blogging Through the Alphabet project with some fellow homeschoolers online. In thinking about a fitting topic for the letter W one need only glance about our …
Center Sister turned ten last week. In keeping with family custom, she celebrated with a long-anticipated trip with Daddy to a mystery destination. We call it a Lowry Ten, after our friends who started the …
Sixteen years ago today I lucked out BIG time and nabbed me an incredible husband. I was just a young dummy, so I can’t take much credit for any part of the …
Continuing along blogging through the alphabet with homeschoolers online, we’re on the letter V this week. a / b / c / d / e / f / g / h …
This will be brief as we’re in the throes of unpacking, reeling from yet another loss in the family, and since today also happens to be a special mermaid’s tenth birthday… By God’s …
The letter U proved a bit of a mental stretch for me with regards to the Blogging Through the Alphabet series I’m enjoying alongside fellow homeschool bloggers online. a / b / c / d / e / f …
The circus is coming to town! Well, to What to Read Wednesday, that is… I haven’t been to a circus in over a quarter of a century– unless you count Center …
Last week I referenced the classic 1980’s comedy The Burbs, in regards to our Radical Ranch Remodel, but this week I’ve got another timeless Tom Hanks film foremost on my mind: Perhaps …
Ciao, Bambinos! I served up my go-to Pasta Putanesca with a smug smirk last night, because this week our What to Read Wednesday link-up is highlighting kids’ lit from another …
I’m blogging through the alphabet with A Net in Time and Hopkins Homeschool. This week we’re on the letter T… in our homeschool T is for Travel. a / b …
You might have guessed at it, but I’m a fan of folklore, fairy-tales, mythical magical whimsy, and all things imaginative… Unicorns, mermaids, wizards, hobbits, and fairies are fixtures of our home. Accordingly, …
I’ve been loving the geographically themed What to Read Wednesdays of late… It should come at no surprise that this adoptive mama is aiming to raise globally minded kiddos. (see also: France, Africa, …
I’m blogging through the alphabet with homeschoolers online and this week S is for Suburbia. One of the greatest perks of homeschooling is the geographical flexibility– one can do school from virtually any kind …
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