Downs Hotel

Hello again, friends.

Today I want to welcome you to Downs Hotel...

Otherwise known as, our latest school project.

The idea to create our own little hotel as a way of studying hotels in our homeschooling, came last  month when I took the kids to visit a lavish 5-star hotel in our area.

(Look at that mirror!)

This hotel is about 45-minutes away from us, in Kohler, Wisconsin, and is such a treat to visit.

My mother came along, too, and we made a day of it!

I told the kids we'd do a study on hotels by visiting one, asking lots of questions, then recreating the experience at home.

They were excited to try it!

(The lobby displays some of the original china that was used here 100 years ago.)

Before we left home we wrote down our questions for the concierge.

The kids had questions like...

~ How many different job titles are here?

~ How many visitors come through in one day?

~ Is there a dress code for the workers?

~ How many rooms do you have?

etc...

I happened to notice a framed certificate on the lobby wall that looked like a recognition from Forbes.

When I asked the concierge what kind of standard needs to be met to get attention from Forbes, she told us that, "Everything must be exquisite, and done to perfection."

Even their cafe is beautiful and unique...

We learned that the stained glass walls were imported from England then bought at auction by Mr. Kohler many years ago.

It's simply called, The Greenhouse.

Isn't that lovely?

We all enjoyed an ice cream cone here...

When the time came to create a "hotel" at home, we used our observations from our field trip, and the information the concierge gave us, for our ideas and inspiration.

For example, the lobby had some games and puzzles out, inviting visitors to relax and enjoy...

So the children included games in our hotel lobby...

We enjoyed browsing through the hotel gift shop and selecting something to purchase...

So the children remembered to include a gift shop as well...

In preparation for Downs Hotel, each child picked the job description they wanted for themselves.

Then they were responsible for gathering the items and clothing they would need to perform their job, as well as setting up an area for it in the house .

Here they are the morning of Downs Hotel...

Welcome! Come on in and meet our staff!...

Elsa was our concierge. 

Here she is ready for a days' work of greeting customers at our front desk...

Soren was our doorman, but he also ran the gift shop...

Nola wanted to be the maid...

Roman was our restaurant host and chef.

He named his restaurant the Black Horse Cafe...

And I was the hotel manager...

As you can see, we all dressed the part and wore name tags. Roman did a great job of making our name tags, as well as all the signs for the hotel...

He even worked with Micah to create a Downs Hotel brochure. 

The pictures I took of it are not that good, but for documentation sake I will include them...

The kids wrote an "About Us" description...

Roman said he wanted our hotel to be over 100 years old!

It was our concierge's job to make sure each guest received a brochure upon checking in at the front desk.

Which leads me to my next point... We invited some of our relatives over to experience the accommodations at Downs Hotel.

Here they all are enjoying lunch at the Black Horse Cafe...

I am so thankful for family members who are willing to come over and "play" with us...

(A close-up of the menu Roman created.)

Some tips I can share with you if you want to create something like this in your homeschool...

I allowed the kids to explore this whole idea all the way through to the end of their imagination.

I did not micromanage it or force anything on them.

They designed Downs Hotel according to their inspiration and interests, not mine.

I was just there to help and allow their ideas to come to fruition.

So, when the kids said they wanted the hotel to have a pool, I encouraged them to stretch their creative muscles and make a pool...

(Notice the No Diving sign, water cooler, and towels, haha!...)

The funny moment of the day was when our housekeeper announced she had worked hard enough and was going on break. We then found her relaxing by the pool like this, haha...

Another tip I can share that worked out really well is we put together envelopes of toy money (purchased from the Dollar Tree) that were given to each guest when they checked in. That way our customers had "money" to spend at the gift shop and restaurant.

This gave the kids a good opportunity to conduct transactions with customers and practice change counting.

The last tip I'll share is to remember to have some employee training before the event and hold a staff meeting right before everyone arrives.

This was helpful to make sure we were all ready and on the same page.

At our staff meeting I reminded the kids to stay in character and play up their part!

"Remember," I said, "She isn't Aunt Jenna today, you are to call her Mrs. Phillips. And Grandma is a customer today, so don't ask her for gum from her purse!" 

Haha!

I encouraged them to check on our customers and say things like, "So, where are you fine folks from? Are you enjoying your stay? Let us know if you need anything."

(The kids thought this was really fun!)

Overall, I thought our idea for Downs Hotel turned out well and was a great learning experience for the kids...

(Taking lunch orders.)

(Satisfied customer!)

But the most important part to me was creating a lifelong family memory, which I believe we accomplished.

That alone is worth the mess and hard work!

"We've been delighting guests for over 100 years in our farmhouse-themed hotel.

We take pride in taking care of our visitors.

Thank you for choosing Downs Hotel."

And thank you, friends, for stopping by my blog today!

xo,

~ Courtney ~

Do Something Different ~ A Ladies Brunch

I mentioned in a previous post that I had planned a few "bright spots" in our schedule to help get us happily through the winter.

 Then my children and I fell ill so it all had to wait.

Well, I am thankful I was able to complete one of my ideas this weekend.

I hosted a brunch for the homeschool moms in our church.

Winter in the North can drag on and on for months after Christmas, and can have a really negative effect on a lot of people.

Most people will tell you that the way to combat this is by scheduling a trip to some warm, tropical place.

That certainly does the trick, and we've been lucky a few times to be able to do that ourselves. But that's not always realistic, and not everyone can travel.

If this is you, and you're struggling getting through the dreary, cold winter, you could try doing something different.

Some ideas I've had for this winter are... 

~ Try a new restaurant

~ Take a day trip to a fun place like a museum or discovery center

~ Read bright, beautiful books

~ Visit a relative

~ Reach out to minister to someone and get to know them better

~ Host an event at home

I decided to invite the homeschool moms at church to a morning of meaningful conversation and encouragement.

I prayed before the event that it would be a blessing for all who would attend, but in the end they all blessed me!

(Isn't that always how it works. *wink)

It was a wonderful time, and we are all talking about doing it again!

The homeschool lifestyle can be very isolating, and even though we know there are other moms out there doing what we're doing, it can still feel like we're on an island.

My vision was to create an opportunity where we could see each other face to face, and realize we are in this together. We share the same burdens and experiences. Let's support one another! 

Prior to the event I sent out a group text of a few discussion questions to get everyone thinking and excited to come.

I wanted to discuss things like...

~ How is God providing for your homeschool journey?

~ How has He blessed it?

~What's your daily schedule like?

~ What are you reading right now?

~ Do you have a prayer request or a question for the group?

~ Is there a Bible verse that has encouraged you?

I really wanted to take full advantage of our time together and make it uplifting and meaningful for all.

Once drinks were poured, plates were filled, and we were seated around the table, I said, "Well, ladies, I have no agenda and there's no guest speaker... WE are the agenda and WE are the guest speaker. This morning can go however we want it to go!"

What followed were a couple of hours of talking about what matters to us.

I've yet to meet a homeschool mom who isn't passionate about homeschooling.

Our heart strings are attached to every little thing we do in our home for our children. And we love talking about it!

Everyone who came was engaged, contributed to the conversation, and had valuable things to share.

Some even brought notebooks and pencils to take notes!

We encouraged each other with Bible verses, shared ideas, talked curriculum, asked questions, laughed and prayed.

My hope was that each lady would leave my home feeling encouraged and with some fresh inspiration. But I don't think anyone was more encouraged and inspired than me!

These ladies were very sharp and had excellent ideas!

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17

It was definitely a time of iron sharpening for me.

As we talked, I recognized how different homeschooling is lived out in each of our homes.

Some ladies have designated school rooms, others do school at the kitchen table.

Some have rigid schedules, others are more flexible.

Some are veterans who've been doing this for years, others are just getting started.

Some are very busy and on the go, others live a more quiet life.

That's the beauty of it! There is no right way. We can design our life at home with our children however we want!

As one of the mothers at the brunch reminded us, "Never stop incorporating what you love into your homeschooling, so that you don't lose your joy for it."

So... if winter is getting you down, do something different. For me is was a special treat to host a ladies brunch. What creative thing will you come up with? You are welcome to share in the comments.

Thanks for reading,

xo,

~ Courtney ~

(Because I tend to get negative feedback whenever I post about homeschooling, please note the true purpose for this post... I like to use my blog to record the things that I do at home. Sort of like a scrapbook or a journal for my own personal use. And if anyone stops by my blog, maybe it can also be an encouragement to them.)

Nature Walks in Winter

As I feared, I ended up with the same illness I watched my children suffer with.

After a week of tending to their fevers, chills and aches, I fell ill with what my mother calls

the Grip.

To the rest of the world, this illness is commonly known as the flu.

Whatever you call it, it's pure misery.

Near the end of my week of agony, once my fever broke but I was still weak and sore, I fumbled through my drawer of old magazines for something to read as I rested.

I have a collection of old Victoria magazines from the 1990s that are sometimes fun to look through when I'm in a season of rest.

These magazines have been with me since my childhood, but just when I think I've examined every photograph and read every line, something new pops out at me that I've not seen before.

I sat down at my kitchen table with a sandwich I made for myself, tuna on buttered toast, and began reading...

The table was drenched in a warm sunbeam, and I could hear birds chirping out the window.

I wish I felt better, I thought. It seems nice outside...

And that's when I saw it.

The medicine I didn't know I needed...

Written by Diane Ackerman for a 1997 issue of Victoria, I read:

"We may feel cozy and safe in our homes, protected from both blast and predator, but we pay the price with slack muscles, weak hearts, and glum spirits."

My attention was piqued. I had been feeling weak and glum...

"Deprived of fresh daylight, we sink low during the winter months. And yet when we search for remedies to those distresses, only the artificial springs to mind: gyms, pills, light boxes. By retreating farther and farther from nature, we lose our sense of belonging, suffer a terrible loneliness we can't name, and end up depriving ourselves of what we need to feel healthy and whole."

A family nature walk was in order.

It had been days since I was outside.

Walking in the winter can seem like a hassle. Everyone needs boots, mittens, and hats. And have you noticed how walking on snow takes more effort than walking on grass or pavement? Boots feel heavy on the feet as they are being lifted out of the crunchy snow, step after step.

But I always find it to be worth it once we are out and breathing in the frigid air.

It lifts the mood.

(For years I avoided going outside in the winter because I was afraid I'd get cold. But Micah taught me that there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear. Invest in a warm jacket and waterproof boots, and you'll find, as I have, that being out in the cold is quite enjoyable if you're dressed for it.)

If you've followed my blog for a while you will know our family has a favorite spot on our trails.

This is our very old and beloved tree...

I have composed many posts about it before.

We come down here in all seasons.

I hope we never get so wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of life that we neglect our family nature walks down to this tree.

Once back inside, we look for something relatable in our children's books.

You know by now, don't you, that this is our custom.

We found My Oak Tree by Diane Sherman, and this adorable illustration of a bare tree in the winter...

Looks just like our tree!

"Do you know a big oak tree?

Then you're lucky, just like me."

It usually doesn't take much to make me happy with winter again.

Just a short nature walk and a little fresh air.

The final lines of the Victoria article remind us that,

"Nature is chaotic, random, violent, uncontainable, no matter how hard we try to outwit it. But it's also dazzling, soothing, all-embracing, and restorative. Wonder is a bulky emotion - when it fills the heart and mind there's little room for anything else."

I hope you're getting out in the fresh air and sunshine this winter, friends.

xo,

~ Courtney ~

Sick Times Call for Homemade Soup

I had big plans for our homeschool this winter...

A vision to create bright spots in our schedule to keep these long, cold days interesting.

Places to visit, topics to study, interests to explore.

Dark grey winter wasn't going to get us down.

...........

Then my Nola fell ill with a fever.

She's been battling fevers for days.

Soren joined in the illness as well.

So my plans will have to wait.

I have been tending to sick kids lately and not doing much of anything else.

Sometimes homelife is vibrant and full of activity.

But during times of illness everything slows down, becomes melancholy and quiet, and you must be content with just the basics.

I have learned that even in these times, a rich and pleasant atmosphere is still attainable.

A bright, peaceful home is still waiting to be cultivated.

Sick times don't have to be sad times.

"The welcoming atmosphere we provide for our family, the care we provide in times of illness, and the efforts we take to promote wellness- each daily action reveals in miniature an aspect of God's nature. The often tedious and mundane tasks of homemaking become acts of worship, our ordinary movements works of art." - Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

As is our typical custom, we look through our bookshelves for something that can relate to what we're experiencing.

"The Land of Counterpane," by Robert Louis Stevenson, is well known. You probably have it on your bookshelf, too.

(Remember, counterpane is an old-fashioned word for bedspread or quilt.)

Sheets become plains, and pillows become hills in this poem about a child who sets up a land with his toy soldiers while he's sick in bed.

So, between keeping bathrooms scrubbed and sanitary, and washing bedding, I like to sit and "rest" with the kids to read to them and keep them company.

We made a little makeshift hospital in our living room.

Each child claimed a comfortable spot and covered it with their own bed pillows and blankets.

On the piano bench that I placed between them I keep tissues, cough drops, and water bottles in full supply.

Also, it's important to remember the cleansing effect outside air can have in a house.

While the children watched old black and white movies downstairs, I opened a window in each of their bedrooms allowing a cross breeze to "clean the air."

Even when it's winter, and twenty degrees outside, there's no reason why this can't be done for just ten or fifteen minutes.

The goal is to change out the sick air with fresh air, not make the house ice cold. I promptly closed the windows after several minutes and the rooms warmed back up again in no time.

I noticed their appetites since becoming sick have been substantially dimmed.

They will take a few bites of something and tell me they're not hungry.

I decided to make homemade chicken noodle soup in an effort to get some nourishment into them.

I like making chicken noodle soup myself instead of buying canned soup. It's very simple to make and far more nourishing and flavorful.

I start by slow cooking chicken in my dutch oven.

I simply mix together a can of cream of chicken soup with a packet of Italian seasoning to make a sauce...

While that is cooking on low, I chop up onion, carrots, and celery to cook in a skillet of butter...

After about twenty to thirty minutes of cooking the chicken and vegetables on low, the chicken looks like this...

And the vegetables are soft and fragrant...

Once the chicken is cooked through, I cut it up right in the pot.

Then I add the vegetables, along with the butter drippings, as well as a carton of chicken broth and 2 cups of uncooked egg noodles.

Raise the temperature on the stove. Cover the pot, and bring to a gentle boil.

There's no need to pre-cook the noddles. That wastes a pot when they can cook just fine along with the soup.

Once it reaches a boil I bring everything down to a simmer and cook until the noodles are soft but not overdone.

(Of course, add water, salt and pepper according to your liking.)

This can simmer on the stovetop for a while, so I like to set the table and clean up my cooking mess.

Warm homemade biscuits go really well with soup.

I know every wife has her own go-to recipe for biscuits. But I am not a fancy person, and tend to do everything simply. This is all you need for very basic homemade biscuits...

This recipe will make eight small biscuits. Enough for one average sized family for one meal.

~ 1c. flour

~ 1 tsp. baking powder

~ 1 tsp. sugar

~ 1/4 tsp. salt

~ 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

~ 1/2 stick of butter

~ 1/2c. milk

As with any baking, you want to mix the dry ingredients together first. 

Then cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Make a well in the center and add the milk all at once.

Using a fork, stir until just moistened.

Make eight little balls on a greased cookie sheet...

Bake for 8 or 9 minutes at 450 degrees.

This is what the biscuits look like when they're done.

(I was getting ready to place the biscuits next to the lemon bars on each child's dessert plate.)

I like to break apart my biscuit into my soup, and eat it with parmesan cheese on top...

 But the kids like their soup with just the cheese, and the biscuits on the side... 

However you enjoy it, this makes a very nourishing meal for children who've been battling illness.

These are the tasks I busy myself with when the weather's cold and grey, and my children have come down with fevers.

Fresh air in the house...

Washed bedding...

Extra books read...

Homemade supper...

Lit candles...

As I wait for brighter, healthier days I realize our days are bright after all.

We are all content, because homelife can be as cheerful as you make it to be!

And we still have a nice long winter ahead of us to accomplish our homeschool goals.

"When it snows, she has no fear for her household... She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." - Proverbs 31:21, 27

I hope you're enjoying your winter, friends...

xo,

~ Courtney ~ 

P.S. If that last line made your eyes roll because you can't seem to find anything enjoyable about winter, can I suggest a couple of books that have greatly helped me? Remember, I never use affiliate links because I do not make any money from this blog. These are just ideas for books that have helped me look at winter differently. Maybe you'd enjoy a fresh perspective, too. I'm sure Amazon would have these if you're interested...

How to be Chic in the Winter by Fiona Ferris

The Quiet Season by Jerry Apps

Thanks for stopping by my blog today, friends.

Four Years of Blogging

It has been exactly four years since I started this blog.

It was my New Year's goal for 2016.

So every January since I like to "go back to the drawing board," so to speak, and reevaluate my vision for this blog.

Why am I doing this? and Do I want to keep doing this? Are the questions I ask myself each year.

(A winter vignette on my mantle...)

I had several reasons for starting my blog four years ago...

~ I wanted a place to record family stories and pictures.

~ I wanted a place to document the renovation projects we've accomplished in our old farmhouse.

~ And I wanted a place to write my heart out.

I do not call myself a writer, but I've used this blog as a canvas to jot down ideas, to express my beliefs, and to maybe be a blessing to those who stop by to read.

Several years into my homemaking career, I noticed a pretty blatant trend sweeping through our culture. Women who were home were looked down upon - viewed as oppressed and uneducated. Our work at home was not considered valuable to society. 

So I decided my photos and writings on this blog would shed a positive light on homemaking.

I wanted to be part of the solution!

Why not go against the grain of the culture and try to give homemaking a good reputation?!

That became my vision.

(A winter table for family dinners...)

But I quickly encountered opposition.

I've learned that one cannot write or speak about being happy at home without receiving negative feedback.

I've been accused of being narrow-minded and judgmental. And I've been accused of forcing my opinions on people.

- How dare you write about homeliving and homeschooling. 

- Don't you know you're a nobody? 

- You have nothing valuable to say.

- No one's listening to you.

These are all comments and attitudes I've received.

But, I certainly don't view myself as a judgmental person.

And I've always known I'm a nobody.

I don't write precociously, I just write out of my own experiences.

So, I guess I don't really see that I've done anything wrong.

I've only ever written about positive and uplifting things, and have never used my blog to tear anybody down.

"When you begin to do Kingdom-building work, Satan will go after ya!" My Dad told me once.

Yes, I have definitely felt that.

But that's how you know you're on the right track. Satan leaves alone those who are no threat to him.

Mothers who have sacrificed everything to be home full-time with their children, and who tirelessly train them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4) are going to soon turn loose warriors of righteousness. So yes, Satan is paying attention.

So, do I want to keep doing this?

Do I want to keep opening myself up by continuing to write on this blog?

I recently read this by Nancy DeMoss-Wolgemuth...

"I promise you, what you have gleaned of God's nature and ways throughout the course of your life, however inadequate you may feel, is worth passing on to others, particularly to those following behind you. Wherever you've seen God prove Himself faithful, wherever His Word has sustained you in weakness and provided needed direction, and yes, even wherever you've experienced the consequences of failing to walk according to His Word- there's your story to share."

God gave me that encouragement and "green light" to go forward with blogging just at the right time.

~ This little light of mine

I'm going to let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel? No!

I'm going to let it shine. ~

(A napkin love note from one of my children...)

Going forward, here's what you can expect from me on this blog in 2020...

I publish posts about twice a month. That is a good pace for me. 

This is a blog about home living, so you won't see any political rants or things of that nature.

I like to write and post pictures about decorating, family stories, recipes, homeschool ideas, etc...

And since my goal is to give homemaking a good reputation, you probably won't see posts of me complaining or of my house in chaotic disaray. Don't accuse me of being fake. I have bad days. I just choose to strive for the excellence I know is in me and celebrate that instead.

"God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will excel in every good work." - 2 Corinthians 9:8

As far as forcing my opinions on people... well, you had to make the decision yourself to click over here and read this, didn't you? *wink

I will not tailor this blog to my critics.

Read along only if you'd like.

xo,

~ Courtney ~