A Favorite Things Christmas

You know the song, don't you?

🎶 "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens..." 🎶 

Remember when Maria asks the von Trapp children to name their favorite things, little Louisa says, "Christmas!" 

Enjoying this festive season and embracing the timeless message of Christmas certainly is a favorite among so many. 

We decided to make this year an especially memorable one by having a "Favorite Things" themed Christmas.

It was different and FUN!

We tried to incorporate the lines from the song in some way throughout the evening. Then, after our Christmas dinner of schnitzel with noodles, we all gathered in the living room for a family sing-a-long and sang, "Favorite Things" together.

🎶

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels

Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings

These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver-white winters that melt into spring

These are a few of my favorite things

(Nola made a lego creation for "Silver-white winters that melt into spring." It was used as the centerpiece on the kids' table.)

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad.

As you could see, we did not have a white Christmas this year.

But since we remembered our favorite things, no one was sad.

We just made our own magic!

Our neighbors who let us borrow their ponies for the evening, also brought over their horse named Mister. 

We had a delightful time visiting with them and letting the kids each share a ride.

And that, my friends, was our "Favorite Things"Christmas.

As long as the commercial world is still going to boss us around because of the turmoil Covid has caused, it's best to create our own experiences at home, where we call the shots!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Enjoy the last few days of the year, and I hope to be back with a fresh writing spirit in 2022.

~ Courtney ~

Why I Love Abeka

 At the start of the school year I created a daily schedule to keep us on track with our lessons.

It hangs on our fridge and has proved to be quite helpful.

I realized this morning, when I saw we are on lesson 70, that we have been booking right along but I have yet to write anything about it!

It's been a great school year so far, so I want to at least mention something about it here on the blog.

The truth is, some children are a few lessons behind, one child is a few lessons ahead, and one is right on the money.

But we are all working hard everyday, so I am pleased with that.

As you know, we do not have an actual school room. Any room has the potential to become that day's school room.

We have a school cupboard where we keep our curriculum and supplies, and Roman has a desk, since he is doing an on-line academy this year. Otherwise, the children generally take over my kitchen and dining room tables. I don't mind a bit. 

Since I mainly use my blog for record keeping these days, I want to include that our grades for the school year 2021-22, are as follows:

Roman - 7th grade

Nola - 5th grade

Soren - 4th grade

Elsa - 2nd grade

We are still using Abeka, and I am growing more and more attached to it every year.

It is a traditional Christian curriculum that is excellent at using all subjects to point students to the Lord.

Micah, who is currently helping Roman with a science exam, actually just said to me, "It's impressive the theology Abeka manages to pack into a science test! You wouldn't believe some of the questions... Explain the difference between general revelation and special revelation."

"Nope, that doesn't surprise me." I said. "Reminds me of last quarter when Roman had to write an essay comparing and contrasting Islam and Christianity for a history test. That's Abeka for you." I laughed.

Take Arithmetic, for example...

This chart is on the inside cover of all my children's Arithmetic books.

(Remember, you can click on the image to make it easier to read. Then use the arrow to go back to the post. 😊)

This may be a rumor, but I thought I read somewhere that Bill Gates wants to get rid of math as we know it, saying it's racist and somehow oppressive to demand a right answer from students.

I appreciate Charlotte Mason's firm stand on the character-building potential accurate mathematics has on a young mind...

"An inferior teacher will allow slipshod habits, allowing a sum to be nearly right. No. Pronounce a sum wrong, or right - it cannot be something between the two. That which is wrong must remain wrong. The future is before him! He may get the next sum right, and the wise teacher will see that he does, and that he starts with new hope." - Charlotte Mason, Home Education vol. 1

Children must learn, as this Abeka chart reminds us, there is absolute truth that God has built into His creation.

2 + 2 equaled 4 a thousand years ago, equals 4 today, and will equal 4 a thousand years from now because God is, "... the same yesterday, today, and forevermore." (Hebrews 13:8)

What a beautiful connection between Arithmetic and the Lord!

Earlier this year Soren and I went through a unit study on encyclopedias. Read this warning given to students...

I love that Abeka does not beat around the bush, but flat out says evolution is a "false idea" from those who "do not accept what the Bible says."

Our children were trained from the time they were little to change the TV channel if it said, "millions of years ago." I appreciate having a school curriculum that backs me up in this.

The Bible sets the foundation for all science, so to teach children to be alert to false writings is wise indeed.

There seems to be an attack on all that is good and right. We see it in modern teachings. That's why I believe children should be on Christian curriculum. 

Instead of teaching children to hate their gender, for example, teach them that they are, "fearfully and wonderfully made." This excerpt from Abeka's 4th grade health book is excellent:

I especially love the part in the middle that encourages students to, "thank God for making you just as He did."

A beautiful, uplifting thought.

Here's another -

God's people should appear, "... confident, happy, full of energy." 

These readings minister to me, as well.

I am learning, and re-learning, right alongside my kids.

I feel they are quite blessed to be receiving this Biblical foundation in the comfort of our home.

They don't think there is anything special or unusual about it, of course. It just feels like daily, mundane tasks to them.

For some reason it takes time for the mind to really open and understand certain things. So patience is required from the mother.

But I pray these truths will touch their hearts and stay with them long after my job is done and they've moved away.

"He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it." - Philippians 1:6

~ Courtney 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Christmas has arrived at the Downs' Farmhouse!

🌹🌲🌹

It's our tradition to get our trees and decorate the house the weekend after Thanksgiving. 

It's hard work, but also a lot of fun!

I am happy to say, now that the weekend is coming to a close, I am finished.

Since our home has a front room and a family room, I like to put up two trees.

We have a system, and Micah helps a lot, so it's really no trouble. I am always pleased with the result.

This year we loaded up the kids in Micah's truck, and headed just a few minutes down the road to a neighboring, family-owned farm for our trees.

After careful search we discovered the two we wanted, side by side in the forest.

We naturally concluded that since they grew up together, they would probably enjoy being adopted together.

Micah chopped both down and the kids named them Louis and Penny.

Lately I've really been into scraggly, un-groomed trees.

I just think they're so charming, and very authentic farmhouse.

This is Penny in our front room...

I think she has a woodsy elegance about her.

Whereas Louis is a little more casual and kid-friendly for our family room...

We had some beautiful sunlight this afternoon for snapping a few pictures of my Christmas decor.

Everyone loves winter sunlight!

It made the steam from our bowls of soup at lunch really stand out!

This is the kitchen table centerpiece when we're not eating a meal...

Home Depot has the cutest little live Christmas plants at the moment.

I bought this miniature tree as well as this adorable winterberry plant...

I like to take the foil wrapping off and place them in planters I have on hand.

As for the plants I had to move out to make room for the Christmas ones, I'm just keeping them in this discreet corner of the laundry room until the holidays are over.

(Roman made this plant stand for me. 😊)

I didn't have an extra planter for this little poinsettia, though. So I just tied a festive ribbon around him instead. 

This large poinsettia gets the honor of my newly purchased, and very elegant, Japanese planter.

It sits proudly at the foot of the staircase...

(Now, wish me luck that I remember to water all these lovely plants!)

🌿

A few more shots of some of my other decor...

Even the children's play cabin gets dressed up for the season...

This porcelain Nativity was given to me by a family member. 

I'm enjoying it as the centerpiece on the dining room table...

I'll end with a photo from our home last year on Christmas Eve...

I am looking forward to another meaningful and merry Christmas season, and I pray that for you, too.

💚🌹💚

I sure do appreciate those of you who stop by my blog.

I hope you enjoyed my little Christmas tour.

I'll be back to write again soon...

~ Courtney ~

 

Warm, Healthy, and Happy in the Winter

 I just returned from a brisk walk out in our trails.

Actually, it was a "crunchy" walk, as my kids would say, as a walk in leaf-covered woods makes the most delightful crunch sounds under your feet.

This is a great time to go for long leisurely walks, now that the heat and bugs of summer are gone.

I am pleased that we still have a few blooms hanging on in the garden...

These are from a wildflower seed packet that Elsa and I sprinkled around this past May.

That one little seed packet sure brought us a lot of happiness this summer.

But I know winter is ready for its turn. Jack Frost is beginning his visits to us. We have awakened a few times already to his handiwork - sheets of glistening white covering the grass.

So, lately I've been taking baby steps towards getting us ready for winter.

Northern living has taught me a few survival tricks for the bitter cold, bleak days.

Washing up the kids' winter coats made me think to record a few of my ideas here.

In my opinion, there are three elements to enjoying a nice long winter:

Staying warm, staying healthy, and staying happy.

Many books have been written on this subject, so I know you don't need me; but here are a few simple thoughts anyway...

Staying warm in a Wisconsin winter:

I recently retrieved my electric blanket from storage to get it ready for the season. These are such a comfort to have around. You can easily and safely wash them at home, in cold water. Just be sure to remove the cord first, and don't let it get too hot in the dryer. Ours is draped over the back of the couch, freshly washed, and ready to embrace us for daytime read-a-louds and cozy evening movies.

The same goes for electric heating pads. These come in handy a lot. Even household pets enjoy curling up on a warm heating pad in the winter. I like to keep ours easily accessible in a basket right by the couch.

For when you must get out, HotHands packets are extremely helpful and make a big difference. We keep a bucket full of them downstairs by our boots. I've learned through many years of living in Wisconsin that the trick to boots is investing in a good quality, waterproof pair that are 1/2 size larger than your shoe size. This will allow room for a few layers of socks underneath.

Also make sure that every family member has a well fitting pair of long underwear. The fleece-lined kind are my favorite! Remember what the Norwegians say... There's no bad weather, only bad gear.

Staying healthy in a Wisconsin winter:

Not enough could ever be said about the powerful benefits of fresh air and sunshine, especially in the winter. 

We get out for nature walks all year round. The country air and wide open spaces have been medicinal for us.

Today's walk was in the woods, to the south of our house, on the Crazy Trail. (We have names for our trails.) It was a nice change of scenery because usually my route is the same: through the orchard, past the barn, down the hill and straight on to the swing.

I've been begging Micah to plant me a birch forest. Most women want romance and jewelry. I want a birch forest. It looks so glamorous in the paintings...

(I have several of these saved on my phone for inspiration. This one's by a Swedish painter named Edvard Westman. I think it's dreamy.)

I believe regular nature walks have saved our health and sanity many times. We almost always return with rosy cheeks and lifted spirits. Sometimes we just take off running as fast as we can and run for as long as we want. Just for fun. And I like to imagine we're in one of Jane Austen's books, as she seems to be fond of creating characters who love to run uninhibitedly through fields and meadows. 

(Her most healthful characters behave this way. The sickly ones stay indoors all winter long.)

But if we do get sick this year, I decided to put together a special "sick times" basket for the kids. It's something for them to look forward to. I allowed each of them to pick out an activity at Hobby Lobby, such as a coloring book, paint-by-numbers kit, or small craft, to keep in the basket with the heating pad. They enjoy these types of activities while they're resting and recovering. I enjoy knowing I will have something on hand to cheer them up if they come down ill.

I also like to keep a few special pantry items on hand such as Ginger ale, applesauce, jello, honey and Airbornes. We try to remember to take an Airborne first thing after arriving home from being out in the public. The other items are a comfort to any family member with a sore throat or upset tummy. 

Also, a lemon in the fridge at all times is a wise rule. It can be used for making hot lemon water, which is my cure for practically any illness. 

Staying happy in a Wisconsin winter:

If my home is filled with stacks of interesting books, fresh flowers on the table, and uplifting music in the background, I can be happy all winter long.

Sometimes intentionally enjoying these simple homey pleasures is all the contentment I need.

I like to always have a good cozy book I can escape into when life gets overwhelming, or when I just need a rest.

 I never read self-help books. 

*Yawn... what a bore. 

I want a story! I want admirable and humorous characters!

 These characters become companions and in many ways teachers. One can learn about the terrible health effects of a sour attitude from Mary and Collin in The Secret Garden, for example, in a far deeper and life changing way than from just being told to "be positive" in a shallow self-help book. 

Music is easy, since there are so many wonderful things to choose from. But I have my "winter music." Artists ranging from George Winston to Norah Jones are reserved just for the cold months, since their soothing sounds feel like a wool blanket, and fill my home with warm fuzzies.

Fresh flowers can be purchased at grocery stores all winter long, so when the budget allows I like to treat myself to a small bouquet. But growing bulbs can be just as satisfying.

I grew a pot full of paper whites in my living room one winter, and found that having something alive and green made me very happy.

This year I planted daffodil and tulip bulbs in my yard for next spring.

I will look forward to that all winter long!

Having something to look forward to is very helpful for lifting the mood in the winter. Like planning a social gathering with friends or just telling the kids we'll bake cookies when our school lessons are through.

Cooking nourishing meals for my kids makes me happy in the winter.

It feels quite luxurious to make a hot breakfast and linger over coffee and Bible readings while the world is out there chasing school buses.

There are still a few things left to do, such as replacing our humidifier. Micah researched them and has ordered one. I am looking forward to this since last year ours quit working and we didn't realize it until our hands were chapped and our bedding was staticky. Poor little Soren was even suffering from headaches due to such dry air. We will get a new humidifier installed and will be that much more prepared for a lovely winter.

Now all that's left to do is wait patiently for our signature bubblegum pink, winter-in-the-country sunsets!

They are a dazzling sight!

(We had a teaser last month...)

Being happy in the winter is attainable, and Christians should be happy.

"... rejoice and be glad and give Him glory." Revelation 19:7

"Be not afraid, O land; be glad and rejoice." Joel 2:21

Wishing you a warm, healthy and happy winter, my friends.

~ Courtney ~

A Home With Heart

 There are responsibilities that come with owning an old farmstead.

Some are obvious, such as;

Respect the land, 

Honor the home's history, 

(and keep all that old woodwork dusted! 😉)

 But others pop up in a more subtle way...

Like when we receive phone calls from past owners, asking if they can stop by to see the place.

Homes with history need hospitable owners who understand their home still lives in the hearts of many people.

We knew we had found a very special home when such a request was asked of us only a year after moving here.

The descendants of the man who built our house came to visit, along with their descendants, (totaling 50 people in all!) and it was a very meaningful experience. 

Meaningful for them, as they got a chance to visit the old family homestead, and reminisce over past times.

And meaningful for us, as we learned the history of our home and absorbed all the stories and memories they could share.

That was over ten years ago, and we told them they were welcome back anytime they wanted.

Well, today we were visited again by the grandson of the man who built our home, along with his daughter. He grew up here, and I could tell it meant a lot to him to be back. 

He was bubbling over when we greeted them at the door. One of the first things he said was, "It is surreal to be here! I am so happy to see it's in good hands and being so well cared for."

It is always a joy to visit with this family. They are such neat people.

The daughter, who lives in California now, was very considerate. She offered to wear a mask and always asked my permission before snapping a photo.

Of course I told her, "No masks! Snap away! I'm thrilled you're here, please be comfortable."

I love hearing their memories of my home.

She told me she remembered the bedrooms upstairs, the large clock in the hall, and her grandmother's massive gardens. Whenever she was looking for her grandmother, she knew she could always find her on one of the porches.

She seemed pleased to see the porches were still here.

I put a pot of coffee on and made a few snacks...

and we walked around and visited.

They showed us where the old back staircase once was that led to grandpa's study...

They explained the original layout of the kitchen...

We heard stories of how they played basketball in the attic and roller skated in the basement...

I enjoyed hearing about his mother, who he described as a meticulous housekeeper. Animals were never allowed indoors and muddy boots were always taken off at the door...

The pocket doors in the dining room were always kept closed and only opened at Christmas, or when company was over....

They didn't have heat upstairs when he was growing up. There was one vent in the middle of the main floor where they all would huddle around to keep warm....

They were kind to share with us some information and photos of the original farmstead, which Micah and I found fascinating. We value any history we can find of our home, and keep it all in a special folder.

I like to try to imagine what life was like here one hundred years ago. It's interesting to look deeply at this woman's photograph and know she stood where I stand, worked where I work, and raised her kids on these floors and on this land.

How would she feel if she knew her descendants still held this home in their hearts and even come back to visit?

💗

Our visitors today wanted to see the trees their grandfather planted; a row of pines along the north side of the house.

We were sad to have to tell them a tornado took them out.

But we showed them the children's play cabin Micah built with the lumber from those trees.

They seemed delighted to know their grandfather's legacy lives on in that cabin.

As they were leaving I made sure to ask, "Did you see everything you wanted to see?" (We don't keep any place off limits for them when they visit, and they're all over the place when they visit; the attic, the basement, the barn, the trails...) Then I turned to my children and said, "Just think, in thirty, forty, maybe even fifty years, you'll come back here with your children and ask to see the trees your father planted."

(These pines were no taller than my hand when Micah planted them after the tornado.)

I hope in fifty years, when my children and grandchildren come back to the old family homestead for a visit, the owners then will welcome them and want to hear their stories.

It is not a fancy house, or a trendy house. 

It isn't eye-catching or up to date.

But it is warm and it is loved.

It's a special house.

It is a home with heart.

🏡

~ Courtney