Simple Tips for Green Living
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by Wendy Gabriel
Instead of putting Caleigh back in a traditional school environment, we made the decision to homeschool her this school year. First Grade commenced at the Gabriel household on Monday.
I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn. ~ Albert Einstein
Tags: homeschool, homeschooling
by Wendy Gabriel
My parents have an organic farm in the St. Croix Valley region of western Wisconsin. It’s a place where I feel like I can truly breathe. Everything in my life suddenly falls into the proper perspective the minute I drive up the long, winding driveway. Worry and stress melt away as I’m greeted by the natural beauty of the land.
Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live. ~Anonymous
Where do you go to just breathe?
Some of my favorite photos and photo blogs:
Twilight Earth’s Photo Sunday
Mother Nature Sunday Gallery: Beaming Flowers from Love Earth Always
Photo Terri
True to Words’ Friday Photography
Twin Cities Photo Blog
by Wendy Gabriel
WOW! It’s been a busy summer so far. We’ve fit a lot of fun into a month and a 
bit. Here’s a recap:
There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart. ~Celia Thaxter
We’ve been to the Mall of America, had a lovely visit (in Fargo) with my sister and her family, attended my nieces graduation at the Target Center in Minneapolis (added bonus, got to see Target Field up close on our way to and from the graduation), spent time at Grandma’s and Grandpa’s farm in Wisconsin, spent a few days with our whole extended family relaxing at a hotel with a waterpark, Caleigh attended her first basketball camp (and loved it) and then more time at the farm. Add to all that: fun playdates, gardening and a lot of playing outdoors!
The summer night is like a perfection of thought. ~Wallace Stevens
In summer, the song sings itself. ~William Carlos Williams
Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time. ~John Lubbock
Summer afternoon – summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. ~Henry James
Some of my favorite photos and photo blogs:
Twilight Earth’s Photo Sunday
Mother Nature Sunday Gallery: Beaming Flowers from Love Earth Always
Photo Terri
True to Words’ Friday Photography
Twin Cities Photo Blog
by Wendy Gabriel
We’ve made it to the end of the school year and Caleigh is now an official kindergarten graduate!
All I really need to know… I learned in kindergarten. ~Robert Fulghum
The beginning: Photo Friday – First Day of School
The last day of kindergarten:
We all love her kindergarten teacher, her classmates, her classmates families and everything about her school. I feel extremely grateful that we were able to find this school and have become part of it’s family especially since we are so far from our own.
We are so proud of our graduate and are looking forward to a fun summer.
In summer, the song sings itself. ~William Carlos Williams
Some of my favorite photos and photo blogs:
Twilight Earth’s Photo Sunday
Mother Nature Sunday Gallery: Beaming Flowers from Love Earth Always
Photo Terri
Sam Can Shoot
Twin Cities Photo Blog
Tags: kindergarten graduation
by Wendy Gabriel
My baby turned 3 years old this week. It truly seems like she was just born yesterday. This was our first birthday party in our new city and our first party without Grandma, Grandpa, cousins, aunties and uncles so I wanted to make it extra special.
Here’s a look back: Photo Friday – The Baby
Our local Rainbow Play Systems lets you rent out their showroom for parties. We had the run of four amazing play structures, a trampoline, an adorable playhouse and a party room with kid-sized chairs and tables. The smile on the birthday girl’s face was worth the price of admission.
As a mother, my job is to take care of what is possible and trust God with the impossible.
~Ruth Bell Graham
Some of my favorite photos and photo blogs:
Twilight Earth’s Photo Sunday
Mother Nature Sunday Gallery: Beaming Flowers from Love Earth Always
Photo Terri
Sam Can Shoot
Twin Cities Photo Blog
Tags: birthday
by Wendy Gabriel
The goddesses were both feeling a little under the weather yesterday. They’ve had a busy few weeks and I think between traveling to our Papa’s funeral and then having Grandma visit (translation: no sleep), their little bodies just needed a little rest. We spent the day resting, finger painting, taking a lavender infused bath (or two), playing games and more resting. I decided to really help their recuperation by making some homemade organic chicken noodle soup. Noodles courtesy of my Mom’s simple and yummy egg noodle recipe (see below).
A family is a unit composed not only of children but of men, women, an occasional animal, and the common cold.
~Ogden Nash
You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.
~Desmond Tutu
Here’s my Mom’s Egg Noodle Recipe:
2 cups organic flour
1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 eggs
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons water
Extra flour for rolling and dusting
Mix ingredients until a ball of dough forms. Turn out onto a lightly floured board and 
knead until a smooth dough is achieved (about 5 minutes). Cover dough with a tea towel and let rest for 45 minutes.
Cut dough in half. Roll out dough to desired thickness (we like them thick). Sprinkle dough surface lightly with flour, flip over, and sprinkle other side with flour. Transfer to a tea towel and repeat with remaining dough.
Let dough dry out (this may take several hours). When dough is dry cut into strips.
To use, cook noodles is simmering salted water or broth for 5 to 7 minutes or until tender. Allow 1/2 cup dried noodles per serving. The cooking time will vary considerably depending on the flour, humidity, and so on, so taste to check noodles for doneness.
I added the noodles to some organic chicken broth, chicken (organic/free-range), organic carrots, organic celery, salt, pepper and (my secret ingredient) some grated reggiano parmesan.
Serve with some warm crusty bread and you have a delicious meal designed to warm the tummy and comfort the soul (and hopefully knock out all colds).
Some of my favorite photos and photo blogs:
Twilight Earth’s Photo Sunday
Mother Nature Sunday Gallery: Beaming Flowers from Love Earth Always
Photo Terri
Sam Can Shoot
Twin Cities Photo Blog
Tags: chicken noodle soup, egg noodles, recipe
by Wendy Gabriel
We spent an afternoon making crayon hearts for Little Greek goddess’s classmates for Valentine’s Day. A friend of mine suggested the craft because she knows how I love to reuse and my aversion of sugar. We were so pleased at how they turned out… they’re adorable!
Here’s all the information in case we’ve inspired you to make this cute and practical Valentine’s craft:
Materials
Instructions
Heat the oven to 250°.
Fill each mold with crayon pieces and bake until the crayons melt, about 10 to 15 minutes (Tip: Place a sheet pan under the crayons to catch any drips).
Once they’re cool, remove the hearts from the molds and smooth any rough edges by rubbing them on a piece of scrap paper.
Use small pieces of foam tape to stick each heart to a 3-inch circle cut from card stock — or use our template, then add your message.
Suggested messages:
You color my world
Valentine, you make my heart melt
Have a happy Valentine’s Day, for “crayon” out loud!
Source: Family Fun
Some of my favorite photos and photo blogs:
Twilight Earth’s Photo Sunday
Mother Nature Sunday Gallery: Beaming Flowers from Love Earth Always
Photo Terri
Sam Can Shoot
Twin Cities Photo Blog
Tags: craft, crayons, Valentines Day
by Wendy Gabriel
There’s nothing better than spending the afternoon with two little girls who are blissfully happy to climb on “snow mountain.”
Snowflakes are kisses from heaven. ~Author Unknown
Some of my favorite photos and photo blogs:
Twilight Earth’s Photo Sunday
Mother Nature Sunday Gallery: Beaming Flowers from Love Earth Always
Photo Terri
Sam Can Shoot
Twin Cities Photo Blog
Tags: playing outside, snow
by Wendy Gabriel
We went sledding last Sunday. We considered it a heat wave because the temperature was above zero! On our way home we were photographed by one of the local papers.
The caption read: Wendy Gabriel walks home from the sledding hill with her daughters Sunday afternoon. The girls took advantage of the above zero weather. Carrie Snyder / The Forum
You can discover more in an hour of play than you can in a lifetime of conversation. ~Unknown
Some of my favorite photos and photo blogs:
Twilight Earth’s Photo Sunday
Mother Nature Sunday Gallery: Beaming Flowers from Love Earth Always
Photo Terri
Sam Can Shoot
Twin Cities Photo Blog
by Wendy Gabriel
The goddesses had fun on Halloween. They went trick or treating and then handed out candy at the local mall with their Daddy. Christopher was trying to convert a whole new audience to The Christopher Gabriel Program. I didn’t have the heart to tell him the under 10 crowd is at school during 9am to noon. Then after intense negotiations, the goddesses traded the majority of their candy for a new toy.
Let us never negotiate out of fear but let us never fear to negotiate. ~John F. Kennedy
Some of my favorite photos and photo blogs:
Twilight Earth’s Photo Sunday
Mother Nature Sunday Gallery: Beaming Flowers from Love Earth Always
Photo Terri
True to Words’ Friday Photography
Twin Cities Photo Blog
Tags: Halloween, John F Kennedy, The Christopher Gabriel Program
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