Sea + Prairie

a little friend on a rainy, rainy morning

a little friend on a rainy, rainy morning, originally uploaded by eren | thisvintagechica.

Taking a little break...not sure how long...need to unplug for awhile.

Shamrock 8K: Complete

As you know, my word for the year is "complete".  I plan on completing quite a bit this year. First it was finishing Maggie's quilt.  Then it was getting S+P open to help de-stash some things around here.

The Shamrock Marathon is held every year around this time down at the beach.  Last year I ran the last mile with the youngest.  What a wake up call!  I have always thought of myself to be in pretty good shape.  I garden, I get out with the boys to ride bikes, kick the soccer ball.  We kayak and walk on the beach, etc.  But it wasn't until I tried to run that mile that I realized how out of shape I was.    I couldn't catch my breath and realized something needed to change.  

Since then, I have been meeting a friend at the gym two or three times a week.  And Saturday I completed my first 8K.

Crossing the finish line was a bit emotional for me.  I didn't want to get all blubbery...its only 5 miles after all.  But it is the first thing I've done for myself, not anyone else, in a very, very long time.

This little race against myself was such an outward expression of the growing and stretching that is going on inside.  

Now I find myself asking, "what next?" with great excitement.

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Oh, and all three boys have been running an entire marathon after school on Mondays.  They finished their final 1.2 miles on Saturday as well.  The older two crossed the finish line together with a time of 6:50 and the 5-year old finished his 1.2 miles (with S alongside) in 8:39.  So, so proud of you boys!

Small Words Make Big Impact on Kids

After a few days of silence, I'm over at Steady Mom again today.  

 

“Put the swing where the children want it, the grass will grow back.”
 – Amish Proverb

 

A few weeks ago, the boys and I stopped by our local bookstore in search of some new reading material.  As a true bargain hunter, we always visit the sale tables first.
 
As I looked down, halfway peeking out from a cookbook was a little book entitled, Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World.
 
On the cover, were four little boys in straw hats walking through a field of yellow wildflowers with a big blue sky above.  
 
I immediately contrasted that image with our household.  We do not watch regular TV, but my three boys can still recite entire Geiko commercials they’ve seen online.  Not quite the wisdom I would like them to be committing to memory.

So, when I saw this little book, begging me to take it home, I thought, sign me up!  I’ll take some peace and truth in the middle of a complicated world.

Read the entire story here.

For Japan With Love

My heart is breaking for those in Japan.  It is difficult to explain to my children, but they see it.  They've talked about it at school.  And they are collecting coats in their school.

Every day new photos appear showing the devastation there, and I just want to sit down and cry.  And I do. I can't help it.  This disaster is so huge.  I just wasn't sure what to do.

 

Then via Honey+Jam, I discovered For Japan with Love, which was started by the bloggers of Ever Ours and Utterly Engaged.

Donations go to Shelter Box, which is a great organization that provides basic lifesaving supplies like a tent, blankets, water storage, and a stove to those who need it.

I gave.  You can too.

Just a small donation can help. Spread the word!

 

A House Full of Boys Needs Flowers

I'm surrounded, I tell you.  By boys.

I have three of my own.  And then my husband makes four.

Add the cat (who is a boy) and the two guinea pigs (which are both boys), Scout and I are the only estrogen in the house.

There was a time that I thought this meant I was relegated to a world of camouflage and car prints.  Maybe a dinosaur or two thrown in.

I'm not much of a girly, girl anyway, but I do like lace, and pretty dishes...and flowers.

I am coming to understand though that as a mother of boys, I am almost *more* obligated to bring a little femininity into our home.

It is my responsibility to teach them what the fairer (and smarter) of our species responds to.

It is my job to show these boys that there is a softer side to life.  

We have new napkin rings on the table, with real cloth napkins.  (That go in your lap.) Sometimes we even eat on real china plates.  We are learning to open doors for ladies, even if we don't know them. 

I want them to know the language of flowers.  How to write a love note, even if it is to a teacher.  How to be polite and not put your elbows on the table.  I think they need to know that it matters if you notice the little things, like if your girl gets her hair cut.  Or if she had a new dress on.

These things are important.

But most importantly...all girls like flowers.  Period.  

Their mama is no exception.

 

These are my most favorite Spring grocery store flowers at the moment:

• Alstromaria:  These pretty little lilies don't have much to offer in the way of smell, but they come in a variety of colors from yellow, to red, to pink.  And are very long lasting. They can last for up to two weeks without cutting if the water is kept clean.
• Ranunculas:  Love, love the delicate pretty flowers and the curly stems are whimsical.  This very old flower just screams Spring!
• Stock:  Pretty pastel colors and the smell is intoxicating.  I put them right by the bed or in the entry way where I can enjoy them the most.
• Hyacinths:  Also love the smell.  And hyacinths just scream Spring!
• Daisies:  So summery and long lasting.  These are might be my favorite flowers of all time.  You just have to smile looking at daisies.
• Daffodils:  Yes, daffodils.  I have seen them pop up at several of our local supermarkets and they are always less than $2 a bunch.  A bargain.  And this way I can leave some in the garden to enjoy outside.

I think the boys must be catching on.  We were in the grocery store a few days ago and my youngest picked up the biggest bunch of orange roses and asked if we could get them for his teacher.  "Ms. T's favorite color is orange!"  How can a mama say no to a boy who is so observant of the likes and pleasures of the woman who has his heart at the moment?

If you are a mother to all boys, do you feel the same?  Like you are responsible for teaching your little lads to be chivalrous and keen on the female species?  

And what are your favorite Spring flowers to have in your house?

 

The Day to Day, and Getting Ready

Good morning friends.

I'm still here.

We've been a bit busy with just lots of day to day things.

Laundry.

And dishes.

And making cinnamon rolls.

And playing with legos.  A lot.  

By the way, have you seen Oscar's lego quilt?  Amazing, and simple!

We love legos so much around here Zane has his own MOC page.  Think of it as a flickr for lego lovers.

We've been experimenting with electrical circuits too.  By the way, legos are not good conductors of electricity.  We had to try.  And we found out that if you put to batteries end to end, the light is twice as bright.  But if you try to hook the light up to four batteries end to end, the light explodes.  Yes, we learn by experience here.

Our mallard friends from last year are back again.

And our papa comes home after being away for 6 weeks later in the weeks, so we're (that really means me) trying to wrap up any loose ends so that we can fully enjoy his short time home.

I got a new Springy haircut too.  I like it.

The gals over at TMG are rocking the nature posts these days.  If you have an urge to get out and enjoy this (slightly) warmer weather, take a peek.  

I've been watching gas prices, and food prices, our budget and how much "extra" we have around here.  So, I've decided its time to start making a little egg money.

So, if you think about it, look up under the header on the right side.  Do you see that little button for Sea+Prairie...yes, that's a link to my revamped etsy shop.  I have posted a few vintage goodies there for sale.  More to come over the weekend or as time allows.

Hope you all are well. 

Happy Tuesday friends!

Book Review: The Write Start

                        

I love this book.

I've had it for quite some time now.  But I just haven't had time to sit down and really go through it like I wanted.

Until this week.

And like I said.  I love this book.

I originally found Jennifer's blog about a year ago I think.

Being a mama of three boys who will always choose playing soccer and legos over writing or reading, I am always on the search for opportunities to get them to do more of the things I know they need to do.

Enter The Write Start:  A Guide to Nurturing Writing at Every Stage, from Scribbling to Forming Letters and Writing Stories, by Jennifer Hallissy.

Jennifer does a wonderful job of breaking up the process of learning to write into four age groups and then provides great ideas of how to encourage your child at each stage through games and fun activities.

I have two 8 year olds who would be in the "storyteller" stage...just learning to use writing to really communicate their ideas.

My kindergardener, 5 years old is still in the "speller" category.

Some of the ideas I loved most were...

• creating stationary for each child to use to write letters to their friends/family
• frame copies of their writing like I already do their drawings
• use our scrabble letters to spell our messages for them when they come down for breakfast

It is amazing how quickly the boys have picked up on the ideas I've told them about in the book.

The biggest hit...writing in code!

So look for it!

Or visit the blog.
And download the templates. 

I hope you enjoy The Write Start as much as I have!