Elsa Beskow giveaway at the end.
I'm still here, healthy, happy and living a good simple life. I just read this post and it made me appreciate my own mothering and homemaking a little more. I just wish I could do it with a little less complaining. I've been enjoying the sunshine and sleeping more by going to bed earlier or napping when the children nap. It isn't very ambitious but it works for me. I take good care of my home and family, cleaning, reading, being present, cooking, in a slow, authentic and simple way. It might take longer to hang a load of laundry but I enjoy it and my electric bill is much lower than most. Blogging somehow has taken a quiet backseat to daily life. I'm still reading blogs but haven't commented much so please forgive my silence.
I've been reading a lot of blogs that are very practical with homemaking and money saving advice including simple, eco living and grain-free cooking blogs. If you frequent the same blog circle as me you undoubtedly know the blog High Desert Home. I've read through her entire archive enjoying every bit while wistfully wishing she hadn't ended her blog. If only I could craft my blog with such wisdom and simplicity. What she shares is my ideal but I do have to laugh; she is only 9 years older than me and has grown children. I have a two year old. ;) I enjoyed her post Natural, Simple, Eco, Healthy, Frugal... and intend to write a similar post for my blog. I really like knowing what products and books people use.
Speaking of books, I haven't been checking as many from the library for the children. I have become frightfully aware that Cate and Si will only be little for a short time. I will only have so many more times to read I am a Bunny or Little Fur Family to Si. To that end, I am focused on reading our old favorites again and again. I feel we do not have the time to read too many new untested books. I am going to share a list of my own top 100 picture books and I can guarantee the list won't look like this one. I plan to write the list by 10 or 20 books at a time. I know some of you have written these lists in the past. Will you please share a link now or when I post the start of my list? I think these are some of the best lists because they are created by us not publishers or teachers reading to large groups of children but mothers reading quietly to their own child.
All that flies in the face of my two new book selections to share. I have to gratefully thank Jennifer for mentioning Emily and Daisy. Like so many of you, Elsa Beskow is a favorite in our house. Emily and Daisy is newly issued by Floris Books. The story is delightful and I was pleased that even Cate (nearing 6 years old) adored the book. The illustrations are charming with flowers, a meadow, elves and homelife. It reminded me a little of reading Ricka Flicka and Dicka books. This book will certainly be on my 100 list. It doesn't happen often but again, I liked the book so much that I am giving away a copy. Leave a comment through Sunday 19th to be entered. It would make the best gift
The fortieth anniversary of the first moon landing is July 20th. If you are looking for a book to mark the day look no further than The Moon Over Star. Written by Dianna Hutts Ashton (An Egg is Quiet) and illustrated by the fabulous Jerry Pinkney this book tells the story of one family and how they spent the day leading up to the moon landing. The book brought me to tears and I was choked up reading it aloud to Cate. This book reminds you that it was an awesome event and is also is full of hope and promise. The young girl in the story is named Mae which suggest that it is African American astronaut Mae Jemison. I would be happy to swap out the Beskow book for this one should you win.