...and it's going swimmingly! (Literally, it started with swimming.) Can't wait to find some time to put together our 2022-2023 curriculum video. The Planning video is up on the homeschooling page; please check it out!

Today we went to the sister site of a beloved East Marion haunt, Lavender by the Bay. In the past few years, the family which owned Lavender by the Bay has expanded their farm to a second location in Calverton (47 Manor Road, Calverton, 631-477-1019). Perfect for us, because the trip was a lot closer, and there was still acre upon acre of dreamy, scented lavender, replete with contentedly buzzing bees. It is truly a sight to behold: a sea of purple.

Pollinators galore!

A peaceful, quiet, simple moment... my kind of luxury...

Picked up some neat baking supplies, made from their own plants: Lavender Sugar and Lavender Honey.

First grade, it was heaps of fun... whether it's learning that takes place in a building, a backyard, a beach (or in some exceptionally lucky moments, a chicken tractor).

And now, in the midst of a whopping six (!!!) days off from school before we start second grade, I am going to attempt to get some blogging and vlogging done. Doing school year-round is a post/explanation in and of itself for another time... :-) The short version is that I've always admired the rhythm of the academic calendars in countries which punctuate their terms with little 1-4 week breaks and have professionally and personally found the 2+ month summer break we have here in the 'States a little unnatural. (Not that one ever really takes a break from learning!) But living in a modern-day suburb that is not dictated and dominated by agrarian needs of pre-commercialized farming (a topic we're covering with great interest in Laura Ingalls Wilder's Farmer Boy), I think we get a lot more out little breaks which give us just enough time to celebrate the seasonal rhythms that come with the blessing of living in a part of the world that has four seasons. (Just enough break, without going stir crazy).

In the weeks ahead, I can't wait to share with you a new liturgical printable, a planner video, our curricula picks for second grade, and a post series that threads the needle with the two main aspects of this blog: Long Island and Catholic homeschooling. There are some really special Proverbs 31 and Titus 2 women who I've had the blessing of knowing, and I'm looking forward to highlighting their work here on coastalvillagegirl.com.

What will AY 2022-2023 have in store? The most important guiding principle is that whatever it may be, it must remain rooted in Him, and seeking to do His will. I'm excited by the adventure ahead, and hope you find some peace and refreshment this summer too, wherever your journey takes you...

Has the late winter fatigue got you down, Long Island? Here's the first in a three-part featurette about places to look forward to when the weather gets warm. I'll mostly be letting the pictures speak for themselves. These were taken during a trip late last March with some of our very dear homeschooling friends. It was a pleasant, clear day, and the girls were simply in awe of the surprising bounty of blooms, many of which they were unfamiliar with. Even with all of the blossoms, the leaves of the deciduous trees were just starting to appear on the branches.

Planting Fields Arboretum (1395 Plainting Field Road, Oyster Bay, 516-922-9200) has no shortage of indigenous as well as exotic flowering trees, bushes and plants to make for a magnificent springtime visit. As part of the New York State Park system, you can avoid a vehicle use fee on the peak days/times of the year by purchasing an Empire Pass.

Now that I think of it, it's time for me to get hopping renewing my Empire Pass! How are you getting ready for the Spring?

​Greetings from the Winter Wonderland that is Long Island! (Some of you may understandably have more colorful descriptors for what's happening outside your window...) While we are back at our beloved brick and mortar hybrid and virtual schools, it's still a strong homebody culture here at the Pond House... especially with all the winter weather. It's not just the cold, it's the dampness of the cold here that I can't seem to get used to, even after living out here for almost a decade... Here's hoping for an early spring! (Essie understandably disagrees, as her dear father took advantage of the twenty inches of snow to make her an epic sledding slope ;-).

Regardless of whether or not you live on an island in the Northeast getting pummeled by a blizzard, it seems everyone on Planet Homeschool is talking about the winter burnout. I totally get it. If it is any consolation to those wanting a more confident posture about God calling them to do this, please know professional educators with decades of experience working with diverse student needs in institutional settings grapple with the exact same things. I think a lot of it is exacerbated by the weather, no longer marinating in the glow of the holidays. After months of hard work by all involved, there is a simple need to recharge, switch gears, turn things on their head, and think outside the box. It's okay to need these things. Kids do, too, by the way! So, without compromising your values and expectations, this may be the most important time to be a little kinder, gentler, and more patient with yourself and others and in doing so, encourage a time to rest, recharge, and reflect.

One of my favorite ways to reinvigorate the current school year is to plan for the year ahead. If this sounds a little odd, bear with me: with a cup of tea in hand, and no stress of having all the answers right away, I like to engage in a little of what I call "leisurely pre-crastination". (Pre-crastination has a bad rap, and understandably so, but I add "leisurely" to it because those are the only terms under which I will engage in pre-crastination).

What does that look like? In January and February, I pour over curricula catalogs, reflect on what is going well and what needs to change, pray, drink tea, and even draft some ideas for next year, plugging things into my pre-existing templates I created to meet our state's documentation requirements. I'll be doing a video series on "leisurely pre-crastination" at some point soon, because I think it is a valuable tool. Even though I am happy continuing with the curricula providers I have been using, I do tweak things a bit each next year.

As I do my next-year prep slowly, bit by bit, without pressure, I find it helps me remember why I picked what I picked for this year, maybe switch a few things up, add a few little supplemental materials for variety, and adjust my trajectory to accommodate for any choices I've made for next year's school plan. Since I'm excited about the new curricula I'm ordering, it helps me remain focused on how this year's targets can set us up for the next. I also work out how to allocate my budget for homeschooling supplies, (because it is really easy to get carried away).

Also, I don't want to leave this bit out: I shop my bookcase and supplies cabinet. Just like the minimalists who "shop their closet" to be grateful for what they have and build new creative wardrobe ideas, I find that when I shop my bookcase and supplies cabinet, I forget about things I purchased that got pushed to the back that might help us in our goals.

All of these things invigorate the current year, because as I get psyched about what has been picked out for next year, it influences my buy-in for this year.

I hope this is helpful to you, and that it might give you some new ideas for how to stay cozy and make the most out of this mid-year lull (be it weather-induced or not). Until next time, stay safe, especially those of you braving the storm in the Northeast!

​Here is our first in a series of reviews on books from The Good and the Beautiful Library! Some of the books in their library are reprints of classic literature (with an emphasis on the golden age of children’s chapter books from the 1920’s-1960’s), while others are contemporary works by writers who create wholesome and appealing characters and stories. We have been truly blessed by our literary adventures with TGATB! (Opinions of Essie are marked with “S”, while Mom is “K”). 

Treehouse Town, Books I & II by Jenni Phillips
Treehouse Town Parts of Speech Game
​
S- I like the book because there are a few really good mysteries, especially the light in the woods. The characters were cute, and they loved to explore new treehouses. The characters were kind, got along well, and never fought with each other. I would like it if the books were even longer, that way I could read so much more about the characters. I like to re-read the books and pretend to make adventures with the friends. The artwork was pretty.

The Treehouse Town game was fun. I got better at nouns and verbs and adjectives.

K- Treehouse Town is filled with mysteries, friendship, and a celebration of creativity in the most Christian sense—using one’s God-given gifts to “pay it forward”. The illustrations are simply stunning. I have watched my daughter read and re-read these books many times. It was so nice to read a story which featured characters who were all homeschooled. The game was a perfect introduction to parts of speech and certainly made these concepts stick!

My only recommendations for improvement would be that I think TGATB should consider expanding the Treehouse Town universe with additional volumes and also making paper dolls available for imaginative play (complete with paper treehouses, of course ;-). We didn't want the adventures to end with Book II! Here's hoping for future volumes of Treehouse Town stories...

--
 
Luke & Lily of the Lighthouse, Books I & II by Maggie Felsch
Luke & Lily Compound Words Game

S- I enjoyed how they made adventures. Lily had to be patient with her pumpkins. She is good at sharing, and she got happy when she shared. Luke treats his sister kindly when something bad happens. He helped his sister when he went on an adventure. The artwork was cute.

The Lighthouse game was nice. I learned how to spell some words.

K- It was so nice to see stories with siblings having such a positive relationship with one another and to see children navigating challenges in an admirable way. The gentle little world of the lighthouse was captured well in the charming simplicity of the illustrations.

The Lighthouse memory game was fun; my daughter was comfortably reading the level 2 TGATB books by the time we got Luke & Lily, but it was still much enjoyed. While she could read the compound words, piecing them together with their matching card strengthened existing spelling and phonics skills.

​How did we incorporate the sets of books and games into our day?
My daughter would read a chapter or two out loud to me at a time, and then we would play a few rounds of the corresponding game. At that pace, it took us a few weeks to get through both books, and so the skills presented in the games got plenty of reinforcement on each reading day. (We generally did this during a down time in the afternoon).

Happy New Year, Long Island! My sincerest hope is that this blog post finds you in good health. Other than Mass and a few local (mainly outdoor) activities, we are keeping it low-key and really focusing on making the most of our stay-at-home life these days.

In addition to the obvious joy first and foremost --Christmas-- we have been enjoying the unusually slow transition out of fall. We decided to take advantage of Amber Waves' winter CSA box extension, and our first couple of December trips were decidedly autumnal. Many of the leaves were still on the trees earlier in the month, and they were simply a joy to behold. We signed up for an outdoor children's class, while was a delight: a handmade rosemary and pine wreath, under the direction of Farmer Kristen. S loved every second of the class!

​The farm really took on a fun twist with decorated tractors and a marketplace. I wish we could have caught the tractors at nighttime!

​As we moved into mid-December, the warmer weather surprised me; when we got out to Amagansett one day, I saw cherry trees in bloom. Far afield while en route to our brick-and-mortar co-op, I happened to catch a glimpse of a few forsythia blossoms emerging along the side of the road. It got me thinking... could I force Forsythia blooms inside? I never did it this early in the year, but since I forgot to ask the landscaper to trim them back this fall, our lengthy hedge had plenty of odd branches to spare. It wasn't a high priority as we moved into Christmas, but the past few days with temperatures in the fifties and ample free time finally gave me the motivation I needed. I brought a couple dozen branches inside, scored the bottoms with a utility knife for ease in cutting, and then split them up the middle with my shears. The obliging vintage Pyrex container from my mom's days in the lab almost fifty years ago seemed a fitting vase. All in all, it probably took about an hour. Will it work? That remains to be seen...

Now you see it...

,...and now you don't!

These beautiful brocades, which I ordered through Fabrics Nova last fall, were a part of an in-the-works dream to put together a little shrine. I kept it super-simple (since I don't have a sewing machine) and did a little catch-stitch with supplies I picked up online. I also ordered red, green, and champagne (which I use to cover both white/gold liturgical days). Marie at Fabrics Nova was easy to work with and got the fabrics to us quickly. They are simply stunning (and truly forgiving to this amateur seamstress).

Tomorrow we have Lessons and Carols at a local parish. A transportive way to continue our Sunday of rejoicing! Though it feels more like fall than winter, Ember Days and O Antiphons are just around the corner...

Happy Thanksgiving, Long Island!
Or, as our dear pastor said Thursday during his homily at Thanksgiving Mass:
“Thanksgiving=thanksliving.”
What I love about blogging (as inconsistent as it may be) is that it is a chance for me to say “thank you”. Thank you to the people who give of themselves in so many ways, and have the courage to start or maintain a business with their God-given gifts and talents, even in this challenging time. Thank you for the places of natural beauty which are there for us to enjoy, learn from, and experience, and the wonderful people God has entrusted to take care of them. And thank you, Lord, for this beautiful family, these friends, this community, who I have the pleasure and honor to walk alongside.

As some of you may have noticed, my blogging has been gradually moving in a direction that better reflects this important chapter of our family life. Homeschooling has been such a blessing, and sharing it in new ways has been tugging at my heart. I am indebted to the praiseworthy women who make up our robust homeschool community, who inspire and encourage.

On a lighter note, I am thankful for the blessing of the person (not me), who has once again rose to —scratch that, exceeded— the occasion, handling all manners of cooking that are more complicated than mac n’ cheese, rice, or salad. See Exhibit A, a beautiful turkey from Koch’s Turkey Farm (certified organic and humane), made available through our friends at Amber Waves Farm. The bird just fit into our oven.

The fixin’s were as Long Island as Long Island gets: almost exclusively local produce from Amber Waves, Foster, and Balsam Farms. Stuffing was made from bread from a distributor to Giunta’s, and for dessert we welcomed a pecan pie from Milk Pail (and some chocolate chip cookies from Tate’s for people who don’t dig pies). Viva la difference…

​Exhibit B was the strong, silent type, who also accompanied us back from the farm: the 2019 Wölffer Estate Red Table Blend. You know ‘em for their “Summer in a Bottle”, but this perennial Sagaponack winery also produces an integrated, affordable red whose construction is more Cab Franc-y than it lets on (just 5.7%!). Prettily so, however, perhaps in part to that nod of Petit Verdot that marries it with the predominance of Cab Sauv. Green pepper and East End terroir minerality, indeed. Pair it with: whatever.

​Charlie Brown made at least one guest appearance.

What were your Thanksgiving plans? Whether you went big or kept it small, I hope you had heaps of fun, food, health, and happy memories with your loved ones!

                                                   I was in awe of how close we got to this Catbird.
​
To watch one's child take in the beauty of creation drives it all the more home...
Happy Sunday, Long Island!

You know those crazy cat people? We are slowly becoming the crazy squash people. Instead of cats, we collect squashes. We eat the squash, but we also use them as a centerpiece. Can't wait to roast the two kabocha (the big guys in the picture--- one is deep orange, and other sage green). Isn't it amazing the different colors they come in? They bring such cheer and vitality to our dining room.

​The squashes and more are products of beloved Amber Waves Farm (367 Main Street, Amagansett, NY, amberwavesfarm.org) Our delight at renewing our CSA membership has only amplified in the face of the many ups and downs 2020 has brought. A connection with the outdoors, nature, nutrition, and where our food comes from is a huge part of our homeschool life in the fall. U-pick is back for CSA members, with social distancing/asking protocols in place. To say that our family has enjoyed heaps of sungold and cherry tomatoes, lunchbox peppers and purslane (which has a habit of growing all over the place, particularly near the irrigation) over the past few weeks would be an understatement. One of my favorite uses for the tomatoes has been a recipe of East Hampton's own, Ina Garten. You can find it here: www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/summer-garden-pasta-recipe-1925046 Even this turns-food-into-carbon cook could manage making it with minimal disaster. Disclaimer: after I halved the tomatoes, I put the oil mix in the fridge for the 4 hours. I've been told not to leave tomatoes out in the open air once they’re cut into (for safety reasons).

Our personal favorites this season so far include:
- kale, mustard and dandelion greens (K's vote--- I love 'em braised with a little EVOO, apple cider vinegar, chopped garlic, salt, pepper. Tossed at the end with some bacon and cannellini beans, the more bitter greens become a simple and splendid one-dish meal)
-all manner and varieties of squash (J dubs: "Superb!!!" The chef of the house makes some mean delicata squash fries. Can't wait to see what he'll do with the kabocha...)
-Japanese radishes (a rather surprising two cents of S, because as beautiful as the radishes are, they have a fair amount of heat. When roasted into chips, however, their sweetness really comes out and makes them really appealing for snacking.)

As the fall CSA box draws closer to its end, each pickup becomes sweeter. Jane at Amber Waves has been a joyful sight each week. She channels her decades of experience as an educator into an enthusiasm for the farm during her interactions with the youngest CSA members like S.

With the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, we are looking forward to a highly-regarded Fossil Farms turkey. Amber Waves is making available for advance pick-up. (A full report to follow...)