Homesteading Middles - Painting with Mulch

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Homesteading Middles - Painting with Mulch

My grandfather used to tell a story of a professor he had in graduate school. This man loved painting his fence.* His excitement over slopping paint on wood confounded my grandfather - who considered this individual a paragon of intellect and academic achievement. So one day, my grandfather asked him why.

The professor’s response was along these lines. “There are very few projects in life where you know exactly what is needed to succeed. Not only that, but at any point in the project, I know exactly how far I have gone and have much further I need to go. That is why I like painting my fence.”

I feel that way about mulching.

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Letter to my children: When Deep Breathing is not Recommended

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Letter to my children: When Deep Breathing is not Recommended

Dearest Beloveds, there are times when being the sandwich generation feels more like being a squashed generation. Global warming seems to be that issue right now.

“Corinna, on the counter container, I want one.”

Where are we? New York? DC?

“You would like me to get you something that lives on a counter.”

“Yes, for drinking.”

For drinking? What the hell lived on the counter for drinking?

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Letter to my children: The Green Glass Doors

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Letter to my children: The Green Glass Doors

Dearest Beloveds,

The latest craze in the house is playing the Green Glass Doors. What started out as a riddle to stymie us all has turned into a spelling game that travels with us everywhere.

Bean, you brought the game home from Flying Deer. We were sitting at the dinner table.

“Okay, here is a new game. Tell me the rule for how this works. I can go through the green glass doors. And so can you Momma. But Dragon cannot.”

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Letter to my children: What if sex was rest?

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Letter to my children: What if sex was rest?

Dearest Beloveds,

The first year of our WiseBodies “Sex Ed for Adults” is coming to a close. A class filled with tears and laughter and learning. Aside from rocking my world by teaching me the history of the speculum, this class is also slowly, steadily, unraveling much of what I understood “sex” to be.

I am so glad I am learning this now - before you two hit puberty.

I wish I could say, I am learning this before you two are exposed to our culture’s myopic, juvenile, reductive idea of “sex” but that is not true.

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Letter to my children: Flush out your emotions now

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Letter to my children: Flush out your emotions now

“Okay, you are almost done with your corrections for your quiz. Please write out ostrich 5 times.”

Bean sat, stone faced, arms crossed, body rigid, brow furrowed.

Gosh, darn it, I was hoping to squeeze one more quiz in - but this is her 36th quiz this year.

“Dearest, this is the last spelling quiz of your 3rd grade year. Just five more words. You can do it.”

Derision slide across her continence.

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Give World Peace a Hop

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Give World Peace a Hop

I started practicing Transcendental Meditation in 2007. Over the years I have more or less consistent in my twice a day practice depending on hospital doings and the age of my children.

When I received my mantra I also learned about the TM-Sidhi program. It is the pinnacle of a series of advanced TM techniques - culminating in the practitioners being able to do yogic flying. A whole group of Sidhas flying together has been proved to increase coherence for the society at large.* This coherence creating effect is called the Maharishi Effect.

So it is a two-fer. I get to replug myself daily, swim in the world of Pure Consciousness, and do yogic flying. Secondly, if I do my program with a group - we are creating peace for everyone around us.

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Homeschool Learnings: Brain Coherence and the Rock Cycle

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Homeschool Learnings: Brain Coherence and the Rock Cycle

“No wait Momma, we need to get our names back before we start!”

“Oh right, what is your name again?”

“Umbrella, unicorn, lemonade.” Bean started laughing. “You Momma, you are Sailed Muppet Icicle.”

“Okay Umbrella, let’s see if we can get your name back.”

“Super fast.”

“Okay, super fast.”

In chorus, both of our hands clapping and slapping we started. “Avocado Avocado is the name of the game, if you mess up once you change your name! A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H…”

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Letter to my children: Being in the Middle, Middle-Aged, or Sandwich Generation

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Dearests Beloveds,

I hope very much when you are my age I am compos mentis enough to remember what it is like to be in the middle. If not, this is why your Momma is writing, and you are welcome. Feel free to throw it in my face and have me reread - I would be honored.

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Letter to my children: A Life Skill List

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Letter to my children: A Life Skill List

Dragon, you ask us, “What do you talk about on your dates?”

Bean, you implore us, “Momma, no! Stay home with us! Don’t go out!”

“Can’t my loves, we need some time just the two of us. If it makes you feel better - usually we end up talking about you.”

“Really?” Wide happy faces.

Really, my beloveds, really.

Recently, we talked about our vision for our family and our goals for your homeschooling homesteading (schoolsteading) life with us before you venture out on your own.

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Homesteading Middles: Uncovering Spring

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Homesteading Middles: Uncovering Spring

“Momma, each bump holds a surprise!” Bean, gently moved cardboard aside, revealing pale yellow daffodil stems.

“I know, this is so much fun!”

“So much fun!”

She looked up at her brother, tromping toward us over the leaves and cardboard. “Careful Dragon, don’t step on any of the bumps - they might be daffodils pushing their way up.”

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