Little House on the Prairie shaped my life as a young girl. With dreams of romping through the meadow, stoking a fire, and cooking in a black kettle; a simplified life was calling me. Ironically, I grew up in the city and ate frozen burritos for dinner. Where's my people at?
In my daydreams, I fancy sitting in a rocking chair, sipping lemongrass tea, as I knit my children a sweater. Truth is I don't own a rocking chair and I haven't the slightest clue how to knit...yet.
Here's the thing, you can learn anything you set your mind to, at least that's what I'm teaching my children. Instead of just saying it though, showing it seems to make a lasting impression. So, this apartment living, city dwelling momma is on a mission to teach her children the ways of old.
That looks like gardening on an apartment balcony, in pots, painstakingly every year. Why? Because there is a lesson of beauty in growing your own food. Understanding the fruits of your labor. Learning to work through the failures well. Life lessons that don't need acreage to be taught.
It also looks like learning handicrafts. We started with weaving using a three dollar lap loom from the op-shop. Lots of research and hours later, we have the makings of a bag taking shape. I've never done this before, but we are fumbling through it together. What a humbling experience to learn new skills alongside your children. Being a vulnerable student next to your child shows them how learning is for a lifetime.
We've taken on mending and altering. Throwing out the mindset that ripped or broken items should be tossed, but rather fixed. Putting away the idea that everything must be bought to have value. That crudely stitched teddy bear, on the bed, is one of my daughter's prized possessions. I think our ancestors would be proud.
Sometimes it looks like canning up the harvest for winter. I have anxiously researched this topic before taking the plunge, terrified that I would mess it up. Once you get that first can sealed and on the shelf, there is no stopping you. How exciting it is to pull a can of tomatoes from the cellar (or in my case, off the top of the cabinets) and provide a hearty meal for those you love. This art will not be lost on me and my family.
It's learning to cook. I couldn't cook a pot of brown rice when we first married. There were many nights of crunchy rice in those early years. See, I didn't know how to cook anything that wasn't microwavable. That could have defined my role as a homemaker. I could have said I don't know how, so I can't. Through many trials and errors, I can cook from scratch now. There are recipe creations that still don't turn out well (sorry family), but the unwillingness to quit has allowed me to get better. And my children, well they are right there, standing on a stool, learning to cook and never give up.
Today, we made lemon curd for the first time. Simple, wholesome, and delicious. A recipe that will be passed on through generations. Here is a quick recipe to get you started on making food from scratch.
Lemon Curd
Ingredients:
If I must fail, I want to fail because I tried.
If I must stumble, I want to stumble forward.
Life and happiness are a journey, may we all travel it well and remember the ways of old.
~Shantel
In my daydreams, I fancy sitting in a rocking chair, sipping lemongrass tea, as I knit my children a sweater. Truth is I don't own a rocking chair and I haven't the slightest clue how to knit...yet.
Here's the thing, you can learn anything you set your mind to, at least that's what I'm teaching my children. Instead of just saying it though, showing it seems to make a lasting impression. So, this apartment living, city dwelling momma is on a mission to teach her children the ways of old.
That looks like gardening on an apartment balcony, in pots, painstakingly every year. Why? Because there is a lesson of beauty in growing your own food. Understanding the fruits of your labor. Learning to work through the failures well. Life lessons that don't need acreage to be taught.
It also looks like learning handicrafts. We started with weaving using a three dollar lap loom from the op-shop. Lots of research and hours later, we have the makings of a bag taking shape. I've never done this before, but we are fumbling through it together. What a humbling experience to learn new skills alongside your children. Being a vulnerable student next to your child shows them how learning is for a lifetime.
We've taken on mending and altering. Throwing out the mindset that ripped or broken items should be tossed, but rather fixed. Putting away the idea that everything must be bought to have value. That crudely stitched teddy bear, on the bed, is one of my daughter's prized possessions. I think our ancestors would be proud.
Sometimes it looks like canning up the harvest for winter. I have anxiously researched this topic before taking the plunge, terrified that I would mess it up. Once you get that first can sealed and on the shelf, there is no stopping you. How exciting it is to pull a can of tomatoes from the cellar (or in my case, off the top of the cabinets) and provide a hearty meal for those you love. This art will not be lost on me and my family.
It's learning to cook. I couldn't cook a pot of brown rice when we first married. There were many nights of crunchy rice in those early years. See, I didn't know how to cook anything that wasn't microwavable. That could have defined my role as a homemaker. I could have said I don't know how, so I can't. Through many trials and errors, I can cook from scratch now. There are recipe creations that still don't turn out well (sorry family), but the unwillingness to quit has allowed me to get better. And my children, well they are right there, standing on a stool, learning to cook and never give up.
Today, we made lemon curd for the first time. Simple, wholesome, and delicious. A recipe that will be passed on through generations. Here is a quick recipe to get you started on making food from scratch.
Lemon Curd
Ingredients:
- 3 farm eggs
- 1/3 cup raw honey
- 6 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/2 cup of lemon juice
- Whisk eggs and honey together
- Add coconut oil. Whisk until melted
- Add lemon juice
- Heat to thicken, whisking frequently. Done when the surface is bubbly.
- Chill in the fridge for a few hours
- Enjoy!
If I must fail, I want to fail because I tried.
If I must stumble, I want to stumble forward.
Life and happiness are a journey, may we all travel it well and remember the ways of old.
~Shantel
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