It’s the last day of August. Where did the summer go? I know we always ask that question each year, but this year I’m asking it in a different way as I’m sure you are as well.
This will be our fourth week of homeschooling. We are off to a good start and I’m thankful. We’re still adding subjects in, but we’re solidly into most of them. I’m going to write a separate post about our curriculum choices and plans for this year. One thing we’re utilizing that we hadn’t really used up to this point is our membership at Schoolhouse Teachers. (We get a free membership because David is the designer for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.)
I had looked at Schoolhouse Teachers a few years back and it wasn’t a good fit for us at the time. I decided to take a look at it again this summer as we are very much in a “make the most of what you have” type mode as a family. I was amazed at how much more is there since the last time I looked! I found quite a few things that will work for us this year so I’m going through all it has to offer and deciding what to incorporate into our plans. Since I plan as I go through the year, this works well for me. I’ll share more details about that in the curriculum post.
This week we are getting firewood delivered. We don’t heat with firewood, but do use quite a bit for enjoying fires all fall and winter. It also serves as a back-up heat source so we try to keep enough around that if we need it, we have it in a pinch. The weather has turned seasonably comfortable this week so it will be excellent weather for David to clean up the area, stack the new wood, and restack what we still have.
We’ll also be cleaning windows and blinds this week, jumping into our fall cleaning before we get out the autumn decorations.
Caroline has a birthday coming up at the end of next month so I asked her for a birthday wish list last week. I’m noticing that deliveries are starting to slow down again. Have you noticed that? In the middle of summer, everything was coming pretty quickly and normally. Now things are slowing down and showing up as not available again. I’ve noticed in discussions online that many people have already been purchasing everything they need for Thanksgiving and Christmas that they possibly can. I haven’t started on Christmas shopping, but it is in the back of my mind.
This week Caroline and I will be finishing up By the Shores of Silver Lake and will move on to The Long Winter. I told her that after we read about what the Ingalls endured with The Long Winter, it will make the pandemic shutdown seem a lot more enjoyable. LOL! Not to make light of what we are all dealing with regarding the pandemic (and now social unrest), but I’ve been trying to find the bright spots. Last week was kind of a low week for us. I had conversations with others and heard the same thing. People feel like their emotional and mental reserves are low. Not only their own but also their children’s.
Because we were all feeling kind of low, I didn’t do much writing last week. I didn’t make any videos either. I wasn’t lacking for ideas. Just energy. Hopefully this week will be better. I refuse to give in to the forces at work to break our spirit in the midst of all that is happening. I’ve mentioned before that much of this that we’re dealing with as a nation is a mental and spiritual battle. I put the Trump-Pence flag in my sidebar because I refuse to be silenced. I want others who come here to be encouraged they are not alone. We must all speak up in whatever way we can.
Lastly, I’ve now redesigned the cover of the A Quiet Simple Life Planner & Guidebook four times this summer (see below). LOL! I think this is the final cover for now. If you purchased it when it was Creating Your Cozy Life Planner & Guidebook, I sent you an email in July with a code so you could download the new version for free. If you received the email and didn’t follow through, please email me (sallie at sallieborrink dot com) and let me know. I want you to have the updated version and will send you another code.
What is happening in your home right now? I hope you’ll leave a comment below.
A Quiet Simple Life Planner & Guidebook
If you enjoy beautiful printables and inspiration, be sure to check out A Quiet Simple Life Planner & Guidebook. This core resource for my site includes hundreds of pages to help you create a cozy and beautiful life for you and your loved one.
Simple Living This Week No. 40 – Homeschooling, Reading, Adjusting
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Hello Sallie;
The new cover for your planner is beautiful! Thank you for the update to your home life.
Goals this week…
1=filling my soul with His word.
2=a few new recipes and meals for the working crew
3=finish music history class because my membership is almost done
4=Hebrew class (maybe)
5=continue to encourage loved one in learning time
6=daily quick cleaning
7=finish reading one book and continue the other
Birdie
Thank you Sallie for this enlightening post. It is scary what is going on in this country. When groups start deciding what to read and learn,etc it is frightening. We brought down most of our Fall items,but we have to clean the rooms first. We all love this time of year. God Bless you and yours.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
I’m trying to finish projects, because my brain is too full. What isn’t helping is my constantly thinking of new ideas and projects. Also, our vacuum cleaner broke and I took it to the shop, but haven’t heard back yet. I need to call her and check on that, actually.
We got our first hint of fall today when we got a cold snap dropping the temperature 30 degrees. Which, now that I think about it is probably why my shoulders are tight as can be.
The TpT decision is disappointing, but not surprising. I’d always meant to put stuff up there, but now I’m glad I haven’t because I know what I was going to put up would be exactly the stuff they would take down.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the kind of world I’m raising my young children in. I’ve always attempted to be intentional in my choices and ideals, but I see the importance of it now more than ever. I feel like we’re living in a mad mad world, and the stability and sanity we provide for our families at home is growing ever more important.