Happiness often sneaks through a door you didn't know you left open ~ John Barrymore

 

Some local jaunts if you feel adventurous... 

The weekend is on the horizon...

 

Grant’s Woods

1.9 km loop, walking, stroller

Hug a tree! Within Grant’s Woods you can find trees that are up to 200 years old! Make sure you visit the Three Sisters, Climbing Vine and the two beautiful vistas along the loop. Portions of this trail are wheelchair and stroller friendly.

Matchedash Bay

2.0 km loop, walking

Explore the largest marsh in Orillia & Lake Country through this loop. Be witness to the ever changing scenery by taking in the view at the three vistas. Stay for lunch and learn about the history at the picnic area. For those interested in wildlife, Matchedash Bay is listed as an Important Bird Area!

Uhthoff Trail

22.0 km, walking, cycling

Discover the portion of the Trans Canada Trail that runs through Orillia & Lake Country. This scenic, picturesque trail crosses many streams and wetlands. Start from Wilson Point Road in Orillia and end your adventure in Downtown Coldwater.

Lake Country Oro-Medonte Rail Trail

28.0 km, walking, cycling, stroller

Hike the trail that is rich in history. The Hurons populated the region more than 2,000 years ago. In the 1600’s French Explorers, missionaries and fur traders travelled through, and in 1819, a Black Settlement was established. The last CN train passed through September 1996.

Orillia Millennium

9.5 km, walking, cycling, stroller

Bike your way from Wilson’s Point to the Narrow, from the North Ward to Tudhope Park! Take a rest at the Port of Orillia, Moose Beach or Portage Bay and enjoy the view on Lake Couchiching.

Ramara Trail

5.0 km, walking, cycling, stroller

Discover history! Start your trail at the Mnjikaning Fishing Weirs, a National Historic Site, then follow the abandoned CN Rail Line through countryside that once ran freight from Toronto to North Bay and passengers from Toronto to Vancouver.

Scout Valley

Algonquin Trail 2.0 km loop, walking, Sugarbush Trail 2.0 km loop, walking, Homestead Trail 2.0 km loop, walking

Within this 93 hectare nature park, you will find 3 loops – Algonquin Trail, Sugarbush Trail, and Homestead Trail. The scenery was formed by the retreating Ice Age Lake Algonquin, and is now a Provincially Significant Wetland where you can find remnants of majestic white pine.

 

Head to the Orillia Lake Country Site for more Autumn Splendor :D  

https://www.orillialakecountry.ca/fall-tours/hiking-tours/

October 2020

This year has given us challenges we never thought we'd face... hardships we weren't sure we could overcome and loved ones who were taken from us too soon... This morning I sat near my window with the bustling of my kids preparing for the brand new school day and thought to myself... we made it through another challenge... it's a bright new day after the storm... we've persevered... we've got this♥

 “Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.”~ Steve Maraboli

 

"This too shall pass."~ Lindsay's Granny

 

 “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”~ Helen Keller

 

“No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That's the only way to keep the roads clear.”~ Greg Kincaid

 

“My barn having burned down, I can now see the moon.”~ Mizuta Masahide

 

“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”~ Margaret Thatcher

 

“On the other side of a storm is the strength that comes from having navigated through it. Raise your sail and begin.”~ Gregory S. Williams

 

Grow with me... For my Babes♥

Exploring my "Grow with me" play list for my babes...

Once Upon A Time...

Pure imagination...

On the wings of a dream...

I get to the be the one...

Live your story...

My wish for you...

Slow down...

Stay humble and kind...

The Glow...

The Climb...

Hand to hold...

What a wonderful world...

A million dreams...

I dream of you...

Go go grow...

How far I'll go...

Leave some hand prints on the wall...

So much more to explore... while you let them be little♥

Grow with me... For my Babes♥ 

 

Every day, be it happy or weary, that you spend with your family, is a gift...

Count your blessings. Every day, be it happy or weary, that you spend with your family, is a gift. ~ Bucket Fillers

Have You Filled a Bucket Today? Book read aloud by Yolanda Bivins

"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." ~ Mark Twain

Remember dear soul...  kindness is the language of love...  you are so kind to others... please be kind to yourself as well...♥

Reflections and contemplations for healing...

Someone who shares a very close kinship with our family

is loosing a very brief, aggressive battle with cancer...

She is a loving, caring, vibrant soul...

It feels like a life cut short...

A life still full of possibility and endless love...

We've decided as a family we are going to create

a healing circle bonfire this weekend...

A time for connections and contemplation...

Many reflections have led to deeper contemplation

while gazing into dancing flames in a crackling open fire...

Our prayers are for healing and connection in a time when feelings of helplessness and loss are overwhelming... 

 

 

Library Time!

Our library is still not open but we are set with the Libby Library app.  It works on your PC or you can get the app for the tablets!  The kids love it and it also has audio books like Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone!  My daughter has borrowed that one for 2 weeks but it won't last that long, lol!

Here's the link! :D

LIBBY! 

 

Story time brought to you by our cutie in grade 1 ♥

Don't let that pigeon drive that big ol' bus ;)

As read by our sweet girl who wanted to share one of her favourite stories with her buds in quarantine ♥

 Click the link :)

Story time, our channel ♥

Worth returning to... Resources we love... not just online! :D

I've been editing our resource list and pondering the return to "normal".  I have enjoyed this edit to our resources and have been carrying the same "edit" to other parts of our lives.  Focusing down the list... what do we really love, enjoy, find contentment or passions in... what helps us reach our current and future goals... what fascinates, expands our understanding or helps us explore our interests... what gives our lives meaning and fulfillment?

Lots to ponder and "edit"!  Here is an updated list!

The resources my learners / explorers use! (being updated as I go) 

It is paired down and filled out with many sources of educational content but more so edited for the most meaningful content!  I wish resources to add enrichment to our lives and not be wasters, taking time from our years... again... sorry... so much to ponder and then again... not sorry... love to ponder and make more meaningful changes... lots of love♥

 

Pondering our mindfulness moments?

A mindful moment is time you take to show yourself love

Breathing meditation
Yoga or stretching

Nature walk in your own backyard
Add to your gratefulness jar or wishing jar
Try one of the exercise or yoga videos online 

Record your thoughts or feelings in your journal
Take a relaxing bath or shower

Catch up on your reading or read to someone

Start or continue to follow your interests or hobbies

Show yourself the love you show others and you'll be a happier, more content caregiver.  You'll be able to be more attentive and give more of yourself.  I am sharing these mindful moments with my little loves... showing them love... and self-love to take with them, wherever their journeys lead... let them lead in love.
❤️

Special Mother's Day Message♥

Happy Mother's Day

Here is a wonderfully lovely video from Explore.org!  They send me daily learning content by sharing live video feeds with us from around the world.  The kids are currently obsessed with the nests filled with babies and the caring mama's nurturing their littles!  Scroll down to their link for a special Mother's Day message...

We love, love, love their motto... Never Stop Learning!

Photo credit: Gooseberry Patch

"We ❤️ Moms"

"Moms make the world go 'round, and we see evidence of that every day on our nature and animal cams.

From panda mommas wrangling rascals to bald eagles who teach their young to be assertive with food, moms provide a vital foundation for all walks of life. Today we honor and recognize them with this compilation of touching mom moments, and hope you enjoy watching your favorite moms live on explore.org.

Never Stop Learning,

Your extended family at explore.org"

We Love Moms ~ Explore.org ~ One of our favourite live learning experiences ♥ 

 

Adustments to the new normal...

     Turns out, the new normal took quite a long time for us to adjust to and get into a "flow".  Our days are much more fluid in transitions now but it is now May 7th... so it took a while.  A day in our lives looks much different than it did before, but it is finally okay.  We fumbled and fell and tried again... changed this and that and this other thing that was clearly not working but... we made it to May 7th feeling more normal about today than we ever have.  My husband, myself, our four kids (now homeschooling), the eight grandparents with varying needs... we're starting to find our groove, find the flow, find our normalcy in this strange time in history.

     Today started out like most of our other days and reflects the fine tuning to our relaxed scheduling.  We learned, time blocks flexibility are key.  

     6 am(ish): We get up, two of the kids have their showers, the other two help with bedding and laundry.  Then we don't look at the clock while we continue this daily process...

•  Get dressed
•  Get breakfast and tea ready (group activity)
•  Gather in the living room with tea and breakfast for our morning enrichment : This can be, Ted Talks, articles of import, our group pleasure reading or interesting news of the day.  Morning enrichment is meant as a stimulating jumping point from which to leap into daily studies...  An awaking of sleepy minds :)
•  Clean up and dishes, move over the laundry accomplished first thing in the morning and tidy.
•  Everyone gets on their outside clothes and we do a hiking trek at varying speeds and intensity around our homestead.  We have a "training" path we have developed over this time to help my daughter prepare for "girl strong" and it has been beneficial for my boys to have daily fitness breaks.
• After we come in from our nature trek, we gather in the library for a "Sunshine salute" which is a series of yoga poses to stretch out from our training session.  
• We are now ready for our first study block.  We have designated that this study block will last a duration of one hour.  All the kids get their learning material for the first block which largely depends on the studies being assigned by their teachers.  We receive daily instruction and our first block is all about meeting or exceeding the instruction requirements.  I sit at the end of the study table (our dining room table), to be available to help anyone who needs assistance.  Depending on the day, I may not actually get to sit, but float around the table helping with seemingly endless amounts of assigned tasks.
• When our 1 hour alarm goes off, we pause our studies to grab our outdoor gear and head off to do our second nature trek, followed by our sunshine salute. 
• We are then ready for our second study block, also one hour followed by the same fitness break and lastly our meditation moment that will last roughly 5 minutes.  The added meditation moment after yoga, is meant to help the kids relax their bodies and minds and signal a finish of our studies for the day.
• We only do 2 study sessions now where it used to be 3 because it has overtaken our days not allowing for dinner prep or anything else.  Some days would take our studies into the evening hours before bed and that was completely unacceptable. 

     I am pleased to reduce study blocks so we can do more unschooling activities in the afternoon and restrict the amount of assigned work blocks.  Even though we are together, we miss family time and down time with family.  It will also allow the kids and myself more time for dinner prep which sometimes suffers and family time.  We now have free time in the afternoons and whatever that will look like is up to the family!  They have been using it for art explorations, reading, games, activities, outdoor play, movie time, free imagination play and anything that tickles their fancy!  

     Home schooling is now more reflective of our family values and allows for more mindfulness activities, time with nature and following our hearts. 

May the 4th be with you♥

May you be blessed with the down time to just sit in a day dream...

Bird Sitting Meditation technique...

Bird Sitting is a type of meditation for relaxation or quieting the mind.  To try this mindful activity, Audubon has some great tips for bird sitting in honour of Earth day♥

Ontario Provincial Parks Free Wallpapers to download go to Ontarioparks.com

Helpful tips provided courtesy of Audubon:1) Find a Spot: Choose a spot where you can sit quietly and observe birds for 10-20 minutes. This can be your window, doorstep, backyard, or local park. Convenience is key. 

2) Have a Seat: Find a comfortable sitting position. When we sit down and stay still, the birds come closer to us than they would if we were walking. 

3) Tune in to the Birds: Quiet your mind and open your eyes and ears to the birds. Lead with curiosity and ask questions like: "What are the birds doing right now? Do they have a nest nearby? What have they eaten today?” Watch their behavior and listen for their vocalizations. Want to level up? Try teaching yourself to 'bird by ear.'

4) Greet Them By Name: If you're feeling ambitious and would like to try your hand at species identification, grab a field guide or download the Audubon Bird Guide App. If you just want to enjoy the experience, come up with your own names to help you remember them by color or sound! 
 

5) Repeat: The best benefits come from repetition. Each day, look for the same birds you may have seen the day before. Getting to know a few feathered neighbors well is more rewarding than listing to all the birds you’re seeing or hearing. You may begin to discover which birds sing first at sunrise, which birds are mated pairs, where the nearest nest is located, and when the hawks are hunting.
Over time, your observations will reveal how the birds and their behaviors are driven by predation, feeding, mating, and nesting in the landscape. You’ll also begin to understand how your behaviors affects nearby birds.

 

Click this link to take you to the story read by PV Storytime!

THE EARTH BOOK by Todd Parr

 

The Earth Book

By Todd Parr , Todd Parr

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Description provided by Scholastic Books... if you are able to, please purchase through Scholastic books to support our schools♥

https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/books/the-earth-book-by-todd-parr/

"With his signature blend of playfulness and sensitivity, Todd Parr explores the important, timely subject of environmental protection and conservation in this eco-friendly picture book. With an eye-catching cover to catch readers' interest, the book includes lots of easy, smart ideas for working together to take good care of the earth, from planting a tree and using both sides of the paper to saving energy and reusing old things in new ways.
Best of all, the book includes reminders for "going green" every day. Equally whimsical and heartfelt, this sweet homage to the planet is sure to inspire readers of all ages to do their part in keeping the earth happy and healthy."

Hygge Wellness for Children♥

We’ve been talking a lot with the kids about the things we do to take care of ourselves.  Beyond the normal “self-care” routines, we’ve focused on matters of the mind and a sense of hygge wellness. 

  

Parents.com has some lovely “tips” about wellness. 

• “Nourish the mind with activities that encourage mindfulness, such as yoga, tai chi, and guided imagery are powerful tools that help build insight, awareness, and perhaps most importantly, tolerance for discomfort," Louis says. 

·          

• “Make downtime a priority. Doreen Arcus, an associate professor of psychology at UMass Lowell who specializes in child development, says even young children can benefit from downtime.” "Routines that include quiet time, even if it is a few moments being held in a rocking chair, perhaps being sung to or read to, offer opportunities for centering and connection," she says.

• "Older children and teenagers should be encouraged to take time out of their busy schedules," she adds. "Take a break in between school and diving into homework, then take a break after each assignment is completed to go outside or get some exercise or even go back to the old rocking chair."

Story Time with Dr. Jane!

Dr. Jane has read two books so far!  Watch these free readings in the link below!

"Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, UN Messenger of Peace, and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, shares virtual readings of some of her favorite books for children every week from her home in Bournemouth, England!"

"In 1960, a 26-year-old Jane Goodall traveled to Gombe, Tanzania to begin the first formal study of wild chimpanzees. Her discoveries changed the way we understand these fellow great apes and our relationship with the rest of the animal kingdom. Her observation that chimpanzees make and use tools revolutionized the field of animal behavior, challenging the "sharp line" separating humans from other animals."

STORYTIME WITH DR. JANE Dr. Jane Goodall

My Gratitude Jar♥

We highly recommend "My Gratitude Jar"
by Kristin Wiens...

You can find the link listed below...

When we take time to be grateful we feel happier...

We challenge you to all make your own Gratitude Jars!

Please show us pictures of your finished jars ♥

You will need pieces of paper so that you can write all the things you are grateful for on the pieces.

Decorate your chosen jar and put the strips of paper with things you are grateful for inside.

When you need to remember what you are thankful for, you can pull the strips of paper out and remind yourself why you should be grateful.

Let us know things you are thankful for...

Wishing you all very hygge, bright blessings♥

Long Story Shortz - My Gratitude Jar - Written and Narrated by Kristin Wiens