Silva Rerum

Butterflies!

For a simple project that is interesting for all ages I highly recommend the butterfly kit from Insect Lore. We ordered our caterpillars last month and saw all five of them go through their mysterious metamorphosis. We released the Painted Lady butterflies last week because we wanted them to experience the great outdoors before their relatively short lifespan of 4 weeks was over. Here are the chrysalises when they were first put in the butterfly house:

   

Proud Member

Moms for Modesty Mission Statement

• As a Mom for Modesty I believe in common-sense modesty for girls and young women. 
• I believe in refraining from sexualizing our girls and young women. 
• I believe that it is unwise and unfair to taunt boys and young men by permitting my daughter(s) to dress in an immodest manner.
• I believe that true beauty comes from within and I strive to teach my daughter(s) this truth.
• I will loyally shop at retailers that provide girls’ and young womens clothing that is modest, affordable and stylish.

As I shop for my daughters' spring and summer wardrobes the companies I most rely on for quality and modesty are Land's End, L.L. Bean, and Hanna Andersson. For affordability check their sales and overstocks. Sometimes it is worth it to spend more for good quality since several children can get wear out of them.

Beautiful and Useful

A small box lay nestled in the snow on the front porch. It was decorated with beautiful antique images and carefully packaged. Before I even opened it, the scent of lavender emanated from the box. Inside, hidden under crinkly brown tissue paper, were a few beautiful things I recently purchased from Small Meadow Press. A lovely illustrated quotation about patience I intend to hang in a prominent place, three envelope sachets filled with lavendar flowers, and a unique "Circle of Days" planner.

Small Meadow Press offers "beautiful and useful papers for everyday life." I have visited this website many times to use the Home Learning Notes -- free PDF's of forms useful to home educators such as a "Book I Have Read" list, a form to record "Outings and Field Trips, and a sheet for keeping track of weekly assignments. Last week I finally treated myself to some of the items I had eyed in the online shop and I couldn't be happier with the service and quality.

Inside my box was a small, rolled up piece of paper tied with raffia.  I thought it might be my receipt.  It was an illustrated quote by William Morris:

Have nothing in your home which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.

What a great motto for a Lenten decluttering mission! I have used FlyLady off and on for years and intend to get back on the wagon this month.  I have no more excuses since my baby is ten months old and taking regular naps. The "Circle of Days" planner by Small Meadow Press is easily adaptable to FlyLady's concept of a Control Journal. In the "beautiful and useful" spirit, FlyLady has her own guidelines for decluttering:

• Do I love this item?
• Have i used it in the past year?
• Is it really garbage?
• Do I have another one that is better?
• Should I really keep two?
• Does it have sentimental value that causes me to love it?
• Or does it give me guilt and make me sad when I see the item?

Look out stuff, here I come!