Tip-Sharing Tuesday: Fresh Air and Sunshine

Dear Reader,

Greetings and welcome to our home this fine day (At least we hope that it is fine where you are!). It might actually reach 60 degrees today, and was in the 50s yesterday without gale-force (or so they seem) winds, rain, sleet, hail, or snow!

We spent the majority of yesterday outside doing yardwork, and consequently have been reminded of muscles that we forgot we have, as they have been speaking to us since, in quite unhappy tones. An aching body is a small price to pay, however, when we were out in the fresh air and sunshine, and we believe our body was truly grateful to be given something to do.

We put in a bed of "Chinese Fragrant Lettuce" and "Celtuce", which is an interesting plant, to be eaten both in leafy stage and after it bolts, hence "Cel" for celery and "tuce" for lettuce. We ordered the seeds from Horizon Herbs, out of Oregon, who are the herb suppliers for "Herb Pharm" herbal extracts. We hope the seeds will grow well for us, as we consume a large amount of greens around here. If they do not, however, we shall be fortified with plenty of wild greens growing around, such as dock, plaintain, dandelions, wild lettuce, and lamb's quarters.

AnnaMarie has been playing "Easter Bunny", and decorated the goose eggs our neighbhors gave us, as well as the mantel-shelf in the parlor. She shows great promise as an interior designer, and we are so blessed to have her developing her God-given talents in our home.




We are grateful to have received this link from Marilyn Moll, the Urban Homemaker, which has lesson plans for studying the Passion Week as a family. What a wonderful resource!

Tasha has begun a nature club, with Frankie, Evangeline, and herself as the only members at present. She says that they had to say these words to belong: "I (Name) will stay true to the Nature Club as long as I can. Nature Bature, rock bock, plant bant, nature bature." She says "Nature is so amazing!", and the purpose of her club is so that Frankie and Evangeline will love nature when they grow up.

Here are some photos of the Club hard at work/play:

"Okay, Frankie, this is how you navigate a small gulley."

"We're going to have to have a really big pot, to make..."

Stone Soup!"

Today we are going to scout about for some cottonwood buds, which if we can find, we'll infuse in olive oil to make a dressing for wounds and chest colds. How very fascinating to learn all the uses of common plants and trees that are all around us!

We also want to make a willow wigwam out of 6' tall saplings, arranged in a circle and tied together at the their tops, for the children to play in this summer. We got the idea from our wonderful English "neighbors", who have been weaving willow fences and making structures for hundreds of years. Here is a lovely site dedicated to the craft. Doesn't it look like fun?

We must leave you now, and get on preparing a place to plant our peas and all-blue potatoes that have been sprouted for over a month now (hopefully they'll grow!), but we pray the Lord's blessings upon you and your family, in whatever circumstance you may encounter.

Love,

Marqueta

p.s. Don't forget, if the weather be fine where you are, to throw open all windows and doors, if possible, for a good airing. Taking out one's bedding, especially the pillows and quilts that are less-frequently washed, sanitizes and deodorizes them. And, did you know that sunshine is essential to good digestion? Try to get as much as possible, without getting TOO much and burning your little nose!

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I Meant To Do My Work Today

Richard Le Gallienne

I meant to do my work today,
But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,
And a butterfly flitted across the field,
And all the leaves were calling me.

And the wind went sighing over the land,
Tossing the grasses to and fro,
And a rainbow held out its shining hand--
So what could I do but laugh and go?