Author: raisinglittleshoots

A Charlotte Mason inspired home educator, person of faith, knitter, lover of the outdoors. Author of Exploring Nature With Children: A complete, year-long curriculum
Calendar of Firsts, Nature, Our Nature Journals, Winter

A Calendar Of Firsts: 4th~10th Jan

by raisinglittleshoots3 Comments on A Calendar Of Firsts: 4th~10th Jan

cal of firsts

1111

My Calendar of Firsts this week:

  • Our first garden Goldfinch
  • Magpies and crows in the park.
  • One of Rosie’s favourite pigeons, Swiff, that has been tied up (we found the remains of a string, tied around his foot.) and coloured by someone 🙁
  • The movement of wind across the grass
  • The New moon

I added a photo of Rose with the pigeons and a printout of a Charlotte Mason quote from my FaceBook page.

My ‘colours’ for the week, along the top left hand page, are splashy grey with a hint of blue! Hurray!

I have created a page especially for keeping track of all the calendar of firsts. You can find it in the tabs at the top of the screen. You can also look in the categories in the right hand side-bar. Hopefully this will make looking for posts much simpler.

How is your calendar coming along?

Books, Nature, Our Nature Journals

Books For Nature Lovers

by raisinglittleshoots5 Comments on Books For Nature Lovers

22I recently had a request from a lovely reader to share my favourite nature books. I thought this a smashing idea, so here are five of my most-read books.

Keeping A Nature Journal by Claire Walker Leslie & Charles E. Roth

My all-time favourite book. This is the book that really got me on my way with nature study. There is so much information packed into this book, you can keep dipping in, year after year. Having this book is the closest you can get to a day spent in the field with Leslie, coming along side you and encouraging you in your studies.

A Trail Through The Leaves by Hannah Hinchman

Another great journaling book, without quite the same nature focus as Leslie’s book. Henchman takes a broader look at daily journaling, which for her, as a naturalist, is the natural world around her. This book will bring out the naturalist in all of us.

Nature Anatomy. The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World by Julia Rothman

A beautiful, American book. As an English reader, I still really enjoy flipping through this book, enjoying Rothman’s whimsical illustrations. An engaging read, you will come away wanting to learn more.

The Amateur Naturalist by Gerald Durrell

A classic on English natural history. This is also a very practical book, It includes information on identifying tracks, preserving a wildlife area, collecting shells, taking lichen scratchings, making a cast of a footprint and caring for wounded birds. Really engaging, Durrell’s passion shines through.

The Art of Field Sketching by Claire Walker Leslie

You really cannot go wrong with books by Leslie. A passionate artist and naturalist, this particular book is great for getting started with field sketching. Packed with techniques, examples, and exercises, this book will help you to develop your skills.

Exploring Nature With Children, Nature, Our Nature Journals, Winter

Moon Week ~ Exploring Nature With Children

by raisinglittleshootsLeave a Comment on Moon Week ~ Exploring Nature With Children

Moon Week

This week in Exploring Nature With Children it is Moon Week!

Tonight is the new moon, so a great time to begin your journaling.

Do let me know what you get up to in your nature studies, in the comments below.

Apologies to everyone for not getting a weather week post up last week; we had a lot going on at home, so I didn’t get to post. What did everyone get up to?

Lynn x

Calendar of Firsts

A Calendar Of Firsts: 1st~3rd Jan

by raisinglittleshoots5 Comments on A Calendar Of Firsts: 1st~3rd Jan

cal of firsts

The first week of a fresh new journal…how very intimidating!

1

We stayed up to see the New year in & were treated to the constellation of Orion; bright & shiny in a clear night sky.

On new years day we took a walk to the park; I got a lovely photo of the girls being silly together.

I added birds to my bird list in the back of my journal, plus a wee, lone daisy to my wildflower list.

The little painted band along the top of the left hand page is a watercolour representation of the colours of the week; this week being very wet, cold, and rainy. This will help me when I come to paint in the Colours of the Month.

How was your first week?

 

Calendar of Firsts, Keeping A Nature Journal, Nature, Our Nature Journals, Winter

A Calendar Of Firsts: Lists

by raisinglittleshoots17 Comments on A Calendar Of Firsts: Lists

cal of firsts

How are you getting on with your Calendar of Firsts?

I have begun mine and I am finding it to be a quick, and non-threatening form of nature journaling!

Inspired by Charlotte Mason, who mentions list keeping,  I thought I would share with you some of the list-type entries I plan to keep this year.

“The study of natural history and botany with bird lists and plant lists continues throughout school life, while other branches of science are taken term by term.”

Vol 6 Home Education

Daily Temperature

I will be using the calendar section of my diary to record the daily temperature. As a fun twist, I am going to colour each date according to the temperature. You can see my colour key at the bottom of the calendar:

1

If you miss a day, here is a good site to check the temperature of your locality for the last two weeks.

Colours Of The Year

This idea comes from Clare Walker Leslie. It is in one of her books, but unfortunately I cannot remember which one. Please do post in the comments if you know. I have done this previously, and it really does help me to think about the colours in nature through the months of the year. Simple sketch out a circle and divide into twelve, each twelfth representing a month of the year. You then simply paint the current ‘month’ with the colours you see around you in the natural world. Fun!

2

Bird List

Simply a list of birds I have seen. I include the following information:

  • Common name
  • Latin Name
  • Location
  • Date

3

Flower List

As with the birds, a list of wildflowers I have seen. I include the same information as for the bird list.

4

That is all for now; I shall let you know if I decide to add further lists.

Calendar of Firsts, Exploring Nature With Children, Keeping A Nature Journal, Nature, Our Nature Journals, Winter

A New Year, A New Diary. Beginning A Calendar Of Firsts

by raisinglittleshoots7 Comments on A New Year, A New Diary. Beginning A Calendar Of Firsts

M1

A happy New Year to you!

My goal this year is to keep a Charlotte Mason inspired Calendar of Firsts; to record recurring seasonal events, such as the first snowdrops, the first apple on our tree in the garden, and when our apple tree loses it’s leaves.

I am really pleased to have some of my readers planning to join me in this diary-keeping, which, scientifically speaking, is known as phenology.

Here are some past posts you may find useful:

A Calendar Of Firsts

Setting Up Your Calendar Of Firsts

My Diary Is Ready!

If you plan to add little watercolour sketches to your calendar of firsts, you may find this tutorial helpful:

Creating A Watercolour Nature Journal Page ~ A Tutorial

Sometimes, a brand-new diary or sketchbook can be dreadfully intimidating in its pristine perfection. If you are following along with Exploring Nature With Children, you may find the ideas in there to be helpful. The current focus is the twelve days of Christmas; here is a short prompt to help you along:

New Year’s Day

Take a walk to your special nature spot. Be thankful for this place and look forward to the year ahead. Remember to replenish the food for the birds there.

You could choose to observe what is happening in your special nature spot and record that, or perhaps make a list of things you are thankful for today, (both in nature and as a family). Instead you may decide to focus on observing the birds. Record them feeding, keeping warm, even looking for a mate!

The first January week in Exploring Nature With Children is all about the Winter Sky, so you will find lots of ideas there if you would like a resource to ‘hold your hand’, so to speak, as you begin your calendar-keeping.

Please let me know how you are getting on in the comments below, or on the Exploring Nature With Children FaceBook group. I am so very excited to be sharing this journey with you!

 

Advent & Christmas, Faith, Family, Knitting, Spinning & Dyeing

Rosie’s Socks, Or The Meditative Power Of Knitting

by raisinglittleshoots4 Comments on Rosie’s Socks, Or The Meditative Power Of Knitting

1

I am well on the way to getting Rosie’s socks finished. My dad was admitted to hospital on the Tuesday before Christmas with pneumonia, he was extremely poorly, so I sat at his bedside, the gentle clicking of my needles filling the silence. My stitches helped to keep me calm, an unspoken prayer for when words were too difficult.

Often, I was simply too tired to knit. When not at dad’s bedside, I was at home, busy with Christmas preparations, or in the car, driving my mum to the hospital.

As he began to improve, my hands were busy with washing and feeding dad, then bringing newspapers, or helping him speak to mum on the telephone.

I am beyond thankful that dad is back at home now, but I have been reminded of what Christmas really is to me; family, togetherness, warmth, and love. That darkness and despair will not go on forever;

For a child is born to us,

a son is given to us.

The government will rest on his shoulders.

And he will be called:

Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His government and its peace

will never end.

Isaiah 9:6-7

Uncategorized

Liebster Award Nomination

by raisinglittleshoots2 Comments on Liebster Award Nomination

I have very kindly been awarded the Leibster award by Lori at CM Schooling. Thanks Lori!

Liebster Award Rules  

Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog.
Display the Liebster Award on your blog
Share 11 random facts about yourself.
Answer the 11 questions you were asked.
Nominate 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers for the Award and have them answer 11 questions.
Let the other bloggers know you’ve nominated them.
Copy the rules into your post.

Here are my 11 Random Facts:

  1. My passion is seeing families exploring and enjoying the outdoors together.
  2. I am married to my childhood sweetheart.
  3. I like to bake fairy cakes.
  4. My favourite book is Wuthering Heights.
  5. I am a knitter, a spinner, and a dyer. You will occasionally see my projects pop up on my blog.
  6. I love clothes. When I was younger, I wore original vintage pieces (cocktail dress for college class, anyone!) I rarely wear jeans, favouring pretty, 1950s-style dresses.
  7. I am a big girl.
  8. My faith is extremely important to me.
  9. My first job was as a beauty therapist, and before I had the girls, I worked as a national make up artist for a international company.
  10. I celebrate the liturgical year and special seasonal days, such as the winter solstice. I do my best to see the beauty and celebration in each day.
  11. Raising Little Shoots is eight years old! I began my blog back in 2007 on blogger.

Answers to the 11 Questions

  1. Are you a night owl or early bird? Early bird
  2. What musical instrument do you wish you could play? Piano
  3. What three words best describe you? Emotional, Faithful, Determined
  4. If you could do anything as your occupation and you would be guaranteed to be successful, what would you do? I get to do it! I am a home educating mother 🙂
  5. Coffee or tea? Neither
  6. To which literary character do you most relate? Anne Of Green Gables
  7. What was your favorite class in school? Art
  8. Which country would you most like to visit? USA
  9. Why did you decide to write a blog? To record our day-to-day doings
  10. What was your happiest moment? Corny, I know, but the birth of my children & my wedding day.
  11. What do you wish you had known before you started blogging? Home much time it takes!

11 Questions for my nominees

  1. Your favourite season?
  2. The words I’d like to live by are…
  3. Introvert or extrovert?
  4. Your favourite childhood place?
  5. Which character from a book would you most like to meet and why?
  6. What are your hobbies?
  7. Something you’re good at?
  8. What would your super-power be?
  9. Your favourite drink?
  10. Your favourite book?
  11. What kind of day are you having today?

My nominees (in no particular order)

  1. Under An English Sky
  2. Viking Academy
  3. Leah Boden
  4. The Tiger Chronicle
  5. Delivering Grace

I will have to leave it here, as I do not follow many blogs, other blogs I follow have more than 200 followers 🙂