The Radical Homemaker

Warning: Blending authenticity with joy may arouse contempt.

The Big Apple

Saoirse and Ula were given an extra-special Christmas gift this year from their Nanna: A trip to NYC to see the Rockettes. Of course, they required two parental chaperones (how lucky for us!). What a weekend! Overwhelmed by the sights and smells of the city, Saoirse sought refuge in the Christmas tree stalls on the […]

Housewife Chicken?!

I have always wondered about the origin of the name of the French dish, Poulet en Cocotte Bonne Femme, which translates roughly as “Housewife Chicken.”  Regarding myself as a housewife of sorts, I set about making it one day.  I soon discovered that it is a dish that requires a fair amount of kitchen time.  But […]

My Turn

In an effort to prevent further injury to Bob, it is now my job to split the kindling (which does involve a considerable learning curve). And the more I split, the less I think we need the fire…   Posted with Blogsy

Closing Up Shop

We don’t have a dedicated retail space on the farm. The kitchen and dining area are converted into a sales floor, with bins of meat set out for display on the dining room table, boxes of yarn stacked on the cookstove (unlit, of course), reusable bags piled up in baskets beside the woodstove, a check […]

iCompass

  I’m surprised she was able to get reception out here.   Posted with Blogsy

Thanksgiving Discussion

My neighbor and long time customer, Corbie Mitleid, invited me to join her for a discussion about unplugging the Thanksgiving holiday this week on Empower Radio. Feel free to check it out here. Meanwhile, back to one of our annual holiday traditions…   The Truffles   Chocolate truffles have nothing to do with pasture-raised turkeys. […]

Ula’s iPod

Ula has made her own iPod from a piece of scrap cardboard. She made her own earbuds from a bit of my knitting yarn. It works so well, she claims she can’t even hear me when I ask her to clean up her desk.     Posted with Blogsy

The Pilgrims and the Wampanoags

Guest post, from Saoirse Hayes Hooper, Grade 5 Editor’s (AKA “Mom”) note:  I have been reflecting lately on how best to improve my daughters’ experiences when learning to write.  I feel like they both have a good command of language, and they are wonderful story tellers.  However, I do feel that the homeschool setting can […]

Ode to the Toad

Ula had a little bug last week. It was pretty minor, just enough to make her lay low for a day, and fall asleep early. In truth, Bob and I take a little guilty pleasure from such moments, as we are able to actually have complete conversations and step across the living room rug without […]