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...)

One of the incredible joys of homeschooling is developing our curriculum around the bounty and richness of our local environment. That came in one of its most fruitful forms (literally and figuratively) this past fall when we became CSA members at Amber Waves Farm in Amagansett. To avoid the traffic of summer tourism and take advantage of the beloved vegetables that do so well in the autumn soil, we signed up for the Labor Day-Thanksgiving farm share. (In making a day of the trip, it also provided a chance to enjoy our beloved nearby Montauk off-season).

Amber Waves founders Katie & Amanda are a force of nature and for good as they collaborate with the local community on a range of environmental, educational and humanistic goals. In addition to the obvious function of raising great organic produce and providing local jobs, they donate to the Springs food pantry and provide remarkably affordable educational workshops.

As CSA members, we received a large weekly box of fresh produce (and in a world before coronavirus, U-pick privileges). The boxes are generous, and the vegetables easily covered our family's needs for over a week. It was a truly magical experience making our weekly trip to the farm to pick up our produce, interact with the gracious and welcoming staff, pick a fresh flower bouquet, amble about the grounds, and wave to the passing LIRR train.  They do a pretty great job of washing the produce, but certainly you will want to wash it again thoroughly when you get it home.

Being a CSA member at a local farm enables farmers to finance and plan for the season ahead, and this includes hiring. As we all know, real estate is a huge financial burden for local businesses, particularly our farmers and winemakers who need ample land. Signing up for a farm share is a tangible way we can keep our farmers on the Island and keep that fresh, affordable and delicious produce coming. Amber Waves offers a number of different CSA memberships and dates through their website, as well as special grocery pickup options. We are looking forward to participating again this fall and wish Katie, Amanda and their team all the best in the year ahead.

Hello, dear Long Island. What dark days we find ourselves in as a community and as a nation. I don't know really where to start. If you are reading this and you are a first responder, medical professional or other essential worker putting yourself in harm's way as you keep our society going, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are our angels on earth, and I hope and pray you and your loved ones stay safe and well.

With career changes affording me newfound time and a desire to focus on what is positive, I am eager to resume my anonymous blogging as a way of highlighting and supporting our wonderful local businesses here on the Island that we have patronized (many of them for years). They are, like so many, working tremendously hard to keep their doors open as they continue to provide us with the remarkable services they are so passionate about.

Regardless of your method, curriculum, or reasons for homeschooling, here are a few affordable (and free!) products that have not only brought ease but also elevated our homeschool experience. None of these recommendations are sponsored; I do not receive a commission for you clicking on any of the links below. What is posted is only a reflection of what has been helpful for us. So, as with any CVG post, use only what works for and applies to you and your family.

Organization & Planning.
For those of us living in states with highly regulated homeschool laws, staying organized is a must. That being said… as a career educator of twenty years I have found that being organized, to whatever extent we can and regardless of where we live, is in the best interest of any parent. This is not about the aspirational perfection that floods the internet. After all, our resources, values, needs, and lives are all very different, and aspiration for aspiration’s sake is an empty and maddening pursuit. For me, organizing and planning simply means creating a trajectory of educational success (as I define it) for my child while minimizing my own stress level so that I can remain present to her needs in the process.

Lara Casey’s Cultivated Homeschool Planner. This is a FREE printable resource, and it is truly priceless. https://laracasey.com/2018/10/01/free-download-homeschool-planner/ Before I began homeschooling, I stumbled upon it and slowly spent a month developing our mission, values, and goals for the remainder of the school year. The monthly pages are pure gold. The intention is not to go down a detailed mommy bragging hole, but only to say with sincerity out of my passion for the product’s value that:

• My child has grown in so many ways in the past six months
• We have been able to meet and exceed many goals because of breaking down, reflecting upon, and setting goals on a daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal basis.
• I have been better equipped to keep the journey in perspective, which has resulted in more joyful teaching.

Emily Ley At-a-Glance Weekly Planner. The reasonably priced large weekly planner, which can be purchased at Target and Office Depot for under $40, has been great for keeping track of what we do each day, and my child’s attendance. I don’t have to write a novel, but using coded symbols I know exactly what my child has done each day, and I am able to make notes about how the day went. Living in a highly regulated state, my plan is to start record-keeping now, so that it is a habit from the beginning of our journey. In addition to saving papers and schoolwork, it is easy to have these planners stored away at the end of each academic year, for easy reference as needed.

Desktop File Folder (FREE) and Spreadsheet software (FREE if on your computer): As I download free and purchased printable materials, I sort them into sub-folders by season, subject, unit etc. Like cleaning out one’s email box, I do this periodically a few minutes at a time, so it doesn’t build up and get overwhelming. 15-30 minutes once a month seems to do the trick. My spreadsheet helps me keep track of what I have, and I can use it for easy reference. In the case of materials that are appropriate for older children, I make a note of that as well, so I can take advantage of them at a later time. A parent with children of different ages may find it useful to add an additional level of folders to sort printables by approximate age and development level. Now that I’ve built up quite a collection of things that are appropriate for my child for the next 2-3 years, I’m slowing down on my downloading. It is easy to go down a rabbit hole with this stuff, so I need a little digital minimalism in this new frontier.

Setting up a separate email address for our school. After joining many wonderful mailing lists, I decided it would be best to set up a separate email address. No regrets; this streamlines things a great deal.

Plastic bin for daily homeschool routine. Gives the little one a framework but enables her to pick the order of most of the activities. What doesn’t get used may get left in for the following day’s bin.

Washi Tape & Index Cards. I post a brief hello message as well as the date on the front of the daily homeschool bin. It includes the day of the week, month and date, as a way of gradually instilling the concept of days to my child. We read it in the beginning part of our home school.

Iris Self-Stacking Plastic Filing Cabinets. Self-explanatory.  Why do I think there will be a wall full of these in our future... :-)

Regardless of your method, curriculum, or reasons for homeschooling, here are a few affordable (and free!) products that have not only brought ease but also elevated our homeschool experience. None of these recommendations are sponsored; I do not receive a commission for you clicking on any of the links below. What is posted is only a reflection of what has been helpful for us. So, as with any CVG post, use only what works for and applies to you and your family.

Tools
3-Hole Puncher. Want to put something in a binder, perhaps by season or subject? You can get a decent one for less than $30.

The Apache AL9W Personal Laminator. This cost less than $30 on Amazon and can handle 8.5x11 paper easily. 100 packs of sheets are available to the tune of $20. I use it to create dry erase and playdough mats and to make manipulatives, games, and flash cards much more durable.

The Fellowes Star + 150 Comb Binding Machine. For about $65, you can have a quality comb binder. While some things end up in a three-ring binder, other materials I like to use the comb binder for. I am also planning to use it for select e-books. I am homeschooling a pre-kindergartener, but I can see how this product has great longevity and far more usefelness as she grows. For a parent of an older child, this could be particularly beneficial for home-printed curriculum, nature study journals, reports and records. You will need to purchase comb binders and plastic covers separately, to the tune of $10-25 for a 100-pack. While they are expensive, bought in bulk they can last for a long time.

Please note, that in the case both the Apache and the Fellowes, these devices are for personal use. You can’t overdo it with churning out materials, and it requires patience to follow manufacturer’s guidelines. The quality of the product you will receive for a modest cost, however, makes following the proper maintenance and manufacturer’s recommendations well worth it. Added bonus of a personal device: neither the laminator nor the binding machine take up a lot of space.

Dollar Tree and Target’s Bullseye Playground. I get that these are not a tool, and at first glance, not necessarily in line with the message of minimalism. But hear me out--- in moderation and with intention, you can outfit your child’s homeschool experience (especially for grammar school and younger) with some wonderful educational products and unit supplements. I remember getting little pots with growing mediums and seeds for a $1 each at Target, and they played an invaluable role in our plant unit. Dollar Tree has had a lot of great basic supplies for crafts and manipulatives. Perfectly functional binders, just like the ones you will find in other stores, are a fraction of the cost here. If you share in my convictions about trying to buy as many “made in the USA” products as possible, you will find that if you look carefully, you can find some American-made goods at Dollar Tree.

Though it’s hardly a news worthy trend at this point, there are many places on Long Island where you can get an excellent Acai bowl. And the good news is, many of them feature other delicious and healthful dining options!

NY Beanery (631-598-2888, 114 Merrick Road, Amityville)
A charming rustic-modern coffee shop with a lovely staff who have the patience of Job. Their signature beverage, a vanilla honey latte, is truly delightful. The Hampton Bowl (unlike its namesake) is not only affordable, it is one of my favorite acai bowls you can get on the Island. Delicious, recognizable ingredients can suit even the pickiest palate. For something more adventuresome and tropical, try the Long Beach Bowl.

Crazy Crepe Café (crazycrepecafe.com, with locations in Selden, Smithtown, Miller Place, Ronkonkoma, and Mt. Sinai)
Crazy Crepe may be known for their delicious crepes (particularly the strawberry-banana-Nutella version named after the shop), but they also make a very reasonably priced bowls with a pleasant acai base. As with anything on their menu you, you can make it “crazy” by adding Nutella! Don’t miss the seasonal lattes here, especially in the Fall—they are stunning.

Vitality Bowls (631-652-4262, 96 E. Main Street, Smithtown)
There are a few things you can expect when coming to Vitality Bowls: excellent, fresh ingredients, innovative combinations, and ability to handle various dietary food preparation needs (though the onus is on the customer to request it). Because they prepare things from scratch, prepare to wait, or call in an order in advance.

Vitality Bowls features a lot of different types of bases, including graviola, acerola and pitaya. Some may find certain super foods an acquired taste, but they can accommodate and customize a bowl to fit your needs and preferences. If you prefer a hot pick-me-up, I love the Pitaya Latte and Superfood Mocha, which are made using Tend espresso from Shirley. They can add coconut sugar to taste, so don’t hesitate to ask for it. A new location has just opened in Commack, and they are offering a lot of coupon promotions worth keeping one’s eyes peeled for.