Hygge Simplicity ♥

A warm cup of tea and a quiet moment this weekend... 

To take in words inspiring simplicity...

My favourite quote for lent so far...

"Fill your life with stories to tell, not stuff to show. 

Live more by owning less" (J Becker). 

 

Cheer Up Animation GIF by Mochimochiland

For my reading choice for Family Day / 

Valentines Day weekend, I chose...

Do you know the 5 love languages? February 8, 2021 / Carol Bruess PhD. 

Carol Bruess, PhD., tells us the "Love language" 

is separated into five categories.

Words of affirmation

Acts of service

Gifts

Quality time

Physical touch

She goes on to explain these in detail and it's worth the read.

It's likely information you already know 

but aren't the words of affirmation nice?

Have a beautifully hygge family love weekend 

with the ones you treasure.

~ Sherry Johnson♥

 

 

 

 

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/

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

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.
❤️

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. 

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."

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