Book Review: I Love Dirt
Aug 29, 2008
Most of us (adults as well as children) don’t spend the time outdoors that our ancestors did in the past. Because of this we’ve grown rather disconnected from the wonders of nature. Research has demonstrated how beneficial being outdoors is for children’s mental & emotional well-being and yet we may still neglect this part of our lives.
Jennifer Ward has put together a marvelous little book that gives all sorts of creative ways to interact with and explore our environment. Most of her suggestions are simply ways to open our eyes to the details around us. She alerts us to things we may not have noticed before. I know I especially need this. I want to spend time outdoors with my daughter but I oftentimes don’t know what I should be doing out there with her. After reading her book I now have lots of options! Most of her ideas do not require any special equipment other than the five senses. While reading, several art/craft projects did come to my mind that would compliment nicely the activities she mentions. I appreciate how the book is organized by the seasons, so you can just turn to the section that applies to you at the time. In my efforts to live a more simple yet deep life, this book will be most helpful. I plan on purchasing this as one of my primary resources for Emma’s home-school Kindergarten this year.
Posted In: Green Living | Gardening | Parenting | Book Reviews • Comments (2)
Book Review: Goose’s Story
Aug 28, 2008
Here in an excellent children’s book that I highly recommend. It’s the story of a goose with one leg who struggles to survive and to fit in with the other geese. I love that it’s a true story! This book is inspiring for both children and adults. I even found myself tearing up at the end!
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Pregnancy Sickness
Apr 16, 2008
I apologize for my absence on here lately. I’ve been fighting horrible pregnancy sickness. Thankfully though, things have gotten much better. A midwife friend recommended I take milk-thistle supplements to help with the nausea and boy was I glad she did! While they have not eliminated all nausea, they have helped greatly! I was at the point where I wasn’t able to do ANYthing. All I could do was curl up in a ball and be miserable. While I still can’t stand to cook food, I am much more active and not in endless misery.
I recently read a great book called, “Pregnancy Sickness: Using Your Body’s Natural Defenses to Protect Your Baby-to-Be” by Margie Profet. This book explains how my food aversions are a way of protecting my unborn baby from potential toxins. I’d always seen food aversions and nausea in the first trimester as just a royal pain that had to be endured. I’m much relieved to learn that this sickness actually serves a purpose! Reading the book also helped to eliminate my guilt over not being able to eat a huge variety of foods right now. I highly, highly recommend you read this book if you are planning on getting pregnant or if you’re newly pregnant! Seriously!
Posted In: Pregnancy | Book Reviews • Comments (1)
Book Review: On Meadowview Street
Mar 03, 2008
“On Meadowview Street”
by. Henry Cole
This was a refreshing book to read. In this children’s book a young girl named Caroline moves to Meadowview Street. Ironically there are no meadows to be found there. Without realizing it Caroline ends up creating her own meadow in the family’s yard. Their “yard” becomes a habitat for insects, birds and wildflowers. Eventually the whole neighborhood follows her lead and every yard is transformed into a natural habitat.
I love this story because I’m not a big fan of the pristine American lawn. The idea of such a huge monoculture just doesn’t seem very natural to me. If I had my way my lawn would be a natural habitat just like Caroline’s with a variety of plants and creatures all working together in harmony. Until then I can dream can’t I?
Posted In: Gardening | Parenting | Book Reviews • Comments (0)
Getting Lost
Oct 18, 2007
Within the past month my daughter lost track of me in the store and nearly flipped out. Since then I’ve been trying to re-affirm that she obey mommy and stay where I tell her to so that she doesn’t get lost. Around the same time I happened upon two new children’s books in the library that helped to support this idea.
“Grady the Goose” by Denise Brennan-Nelson; Illustrated by Michael Glenn Monroe
In this story a young gosling keeps wandering off from the family and eventually loses them altogether when the family flies south for the winter. Everything works out in the end and she learns to stay close. I’m especially fond of this book as it is published by Sleeping Bear Press. They feature local Michigan writers and artists and offer many other fabulous books that I hope to talk more about in the future.
“Little Otter’s Big Journey” by David Bedford; Illustrated by Susan Winter
I love the little animals in this story. The baby otter just tugs at your heart! Like the other book, this story shows children why wandering off can lead to trouble. The final phrase in the book is something I want my daughter to remember throughout life, “No matter where you are, my baby, I’ll always find you.”
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