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It’s early December, and almost all the deciduous trees in our yard are bare. That makes it easier to see some feathered friends, especially cardinals with their bright red plumage. One red bird that’s difficult to spot throughout the year is the scarlet tanager. In the summer, these birds usually stay among the thick foliage …

We have had a few cold snaps already, and I’ve noticed a sharp decline in the number of insects around. So when my son and I were pulling up some vines the other day, you can image our surprise when a swarm of yellowjackets came up from the ground. We took off running as fast …

It’s the big weekend for shopping the sales and waiting in line. It reminds me of a birthday party I went to at Chuck E. Cheese when my children were small. It was so loud and crowded that the birthday girl’s mom said, “I just want to go home and sit under a tree.” The …

I love Thanksgiving, especially when extended family can get together to celebrate. Every time we do, we usually follow the family’s traditional Thanksgiving schedule: cooking and baking all morning, eating a huge meal around lunchtime, taking a nap, and then playing a family football or volleyball game. And while the food is delicious and the …

This Thursday is Thanksgiving, which for many Americans means a table laden with food like mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, pumpkin pie, and of course, turkey. And while you may be familiar with the domestic farm-raised turkeys that often end up as part of the Thanksgiving menu, there is another kind of turkey out there …

My seventeen-year-old is not a fan of creepy-crawly things, and she’s been working hard at keeping them out of her room. We live in an older home, so sometimes this proves to be quite a challenge. Imagine her shock and dismay to find another outdoor creature inside her space. This time, though, it wasn’t a …

I love the colors of fall, and this past week the leaves were so bright and beautiful on the trees in our town. And every time I saw them, it reminded me of a place we need to go back to and soon: Craggy Pinnacle in North Carolina. The colors there must be amazing!  We …

Did you know there’s a way to celebrate Thanksgiving all month long? Not only is it easy to do, but it helps bring everyone’s attention back to the things that matter most. Create a Thankful Tree with your family or class! Supplies Roll of brown bulletin board paper, butcher paper, or packaging paper Red, yellow, …

  We love thinking of ways to celebrate each season.  Here’s what we’re looking forward to trying this Fall.  Let us know if you try them!     You’ve tried a leaf pile. This Fall, try a leaf maze or labyrinth. We’d love to see pictures of your designs. Make smores with a solar oven. …

Here are some fun ways you can welcome summer: 1. Make sure to get yourself to the path of totality for a once-in-a-lifetime total eclipse on August 21st. Learn all about the Great American Eclipse here. 2. Goat yoga is the latest craze. We give you permission to cave to temptation and check it out! …

I love nothing more than combining multiple good things. Perhaps it’s a product of being born into the millennial cohort or perhaps it’s the fact that I want too strongly to “do it all” within the confines of a “standard American adult schedule”, but when possible, combining things has become my default setting. A luncheon …

If the optimism with which you began your New Year’s resolutions has met the solid reality of limited time, limited energy, and limited resources, you might be wondering if this really can be the year in which you feel better and have stronger relationships. But take heart. One simple rule has helped our family in …

September 22 marked the official start of autumn. This year, however, I don’t feel as though it officially arrived until early November. My family and I ushered in autumn while we were at the beach this past weekend. I love the beach in autumn, far more than the other seasons. Most people would agree that …

I noticed her bulbous form, striking colors and lean legs in my front garden bed. She had just trapped a large bumblebee in her web and was swiftly wrapping it up in silk. My first reaction was to take a step back, as if she was going to jump from her web to suck the …

1. As soon as you tumble out of bed, go outside for a few minutes and let the sun’s rays help wake up your brain. 2. If possible, eat breakfast outdoors or with a window open. Let the sounds of nature set the tone for a peaceful, productive day. 3. On the ride to school, …

One summer, I interned at the Peace Center for the Performing Arts in Greenville, South Carolina, helping with its continuing education program for teachers. As a teacher-in-training, I welcome the opportunity to interact with teachers and learn more in my field. The work is invigorating, educational and inspiring. As with any job, however, I find …

It still unbelievable to me that this time last year I was over 8,000 miles away and on the other end of the world, New Zealand, to study my passion: education. I do not think I fully understood this trip’s impact on me until I have had time to reflect over it this past year. …

1. Go kayaking! And check out these five reasons why you should take the kids with you. 2. Stargaze. Put these summer dates on your calendar. 3. Pick some fruit and make a cobbler. 4. Try tie dying with dye made from plant matter. 5. Use these tricks to attract fireflies to your yard. 6. …

Picture this – a group of second graders collects caterpillars and eggs on milkweed and other flowers in an outdoor butterfly garden. Inside the classroom they’ll watch them develop and change, learning about habitats, metamorphosis, and the life cycle. A few weeks later they will release adult butterflies, watching in wonder as colorful wings beat …

On the days I get home before dark (and often accompanied by a flashlight even after dusk) I take a walk in my yard and admire the plants and the mountains and the sunset and my goats. Lately, these walks have resulted in lots of pictures. Sometimes I’m so in awe of the plants and …