The secret of getting started is breaking your [seemingly] complex overwhelming tasksinto small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.- Mark TwainThat's pretty much how our homeschooling year started.  In August I posted my

Do your children ever feel the thrill of living on the edge?  Although I certainly don't want my children literally on the edge, I do feel it is important that they feel the exhiliration that comes with adventure and discovery.  I want them to think they're pushing the limits.

I have discovered a most delicious treat!  At least I thought I had discovered it, but when I checked it out online I see I am a few years behind the curve... oh well, my new love and I have finally connected and it is a very good thing.

I had a brief moment of clarity the other d

We had a marvelous time two weekends ago when we attempted to hike 42 miles around Mt. Hood, starting and ending at Timberline Lodge.  It was the boys' first backpacking trip and the first one Bob and I have been on in about 7 years!  Brave or silly?  You can be the judge:)

We are attempting the completion of a bittersweet dream this weekend.  Ever since my brother's death in 2002 I have been looking forward to the day when the boys would be old enough to do a special family hike around Mt. Hood- now's the ti

*So good they're worth a second post!  I am making these for an upcoming camping extravaganza and thought I'd repost... enjoy!*Not everything worth eating grows in the garden... here is somethin

Life is full of simp

It's that time of year again.  The time of year when you slink in and out of the house so your zucchini growing neighbor doesn't have a chance to catch you.  You might draw the shades and keep the lights low to discourage the fateful grocery bag full of gargantuan green oblongs.  Actually, perhaps it's t

The boys and I ventured out the other day in search of nature... snakes in particular. (potential back to school photo:)

It's no secret that keeping up with housework is one of my biggest challenges;  I wouldn't try to deny it!

Something got me to thinking about Paul Simon's Father and Daughter song yesterday.  It captures perfectly many of the feelings I have towards my children and is one I have sung to the boys often; of course, I have to change the lyrics up a bit. I hope you enjoy it......i'm gonna wat

This is the second installment of

I am always curious when I check my stats to see how people come to My Everyday Graces.  Interestingly, a lot of people arrive here via Google Images. I am not sure how that works exactly, but I would love to be enlightened if anyone in blogland does:)  I mean, who sorts all those photos anyway?

It always pains me to thin and discard seedlings in the garden... it's like ripping out a little piece of myself  (perhaps a little dramatic).  After taking the time to prepare a bed, plant the seeds, water, etc. I find the whole thinning thing to be a little wasteful.I much prefer to transplant whenev

The boys and I slipped quietly into school last week.Concerned about the upcoming challenge of how to start homeschooling I went to work on a plan of action;  start slowly, with few subjects, and a start date of August 1 (which just so happened to be a Monday!).

The boys and I slipped quietly into school last week. Concerned about the upcoming challenge of how to start homeschooling I went to work on a plan of action;  start slowly, with few subjects, and a start date of August 1 (which just so happened to be a Monday!).So what to start with?

Hey, Gertie, get a load of the beak on that chicken!

I love to plant things

The decisions have been made and the books have been purchased... gulp!  Wow, who knew what a difficult thing it would be to personally select the curriculum for my two boys.  Difficult and exciting!  I poured over websites, catalogs, books and more books, and picked the brains of friends and st

I saw this on a friend's facebook post and think it's too good not to share.

Wow, you know you've been gone awhile when everything looks different upon your return;  Blogger has been busy!  I haven't exactly gone anywhere;  I just haven't been here.

It is blustery out!  I'm talking sheets of rain, people... sideways sheets of rain.  The wind is howling, the skies are grey and the drops are huge- Ah, Oregon:)But, I had this lovely little image in my inbox this morning...

I'd been spending some time today writing a post about what I've been up to the last week or so, when I came upon this little collage I created awhile back. Wouldn't a child love to have any of these things in their yard?  A fairy garden perhaps?  A working toy train?  A special hobbit hideaway?

In which I share my Grand Finale, because baby, this is good!  Hot, thick, chocolatey and homemade...

I was convinced these cookies would be the best thing since sliced bread... how could they not be?  I mean coffee and chocolate... let's get real here.So, it really pains me to say, especially after 3 sticks of butter, that I cannot, in good conscience,  recommend these cookies.

One comment that seems to be recurring around here is "More lovelies, please!"So, being the pleaser that I am, I went out to capture one on film (chip?).  This one is most curious... always running up and peering at the camera.  As you ca

Hi all,So, I have been blogging for a little over a year now and have had a great time doing so.  I am truly amazed  at what a powerful tool the blogging world is for women.  Whether we are looking for craft ideas, dinner recipes, solace, friendships, how to's (you name it) it may be found in Blog

In keeping with my new goal of picking a cookbook/magazine a month and making a recipe a week from it, I figured why not stay with the magazine that brought me those fabulous

I've been starting to dream about this year's garden and the word potager keeps coming to mind... a potager  looks like an informal kitchen garden, but a lot of thought and planning goes into planting beds that overflow with vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruits.And then, as if for added motivation, this vi