Making breakfast great (again?)

 I've been sharing with friends that I had gotten into a happy state of letting the kids make their own breakfasts.  They had boundaries of choices-healthy choices.  But I found that as we went through the day people were either hungry very early in the day (9:30-10) or found that they had forgotten completely to make their breakfast!  So I'm mixing it up!  

I have been a strong advocate for a high protein, low sugar, moderate balanced fat breakfast from the beginning.  My husband is happy with some left over veggies and scrambled eggs for breakfast, but the kids were not going for that as much....

This was what I needed:  good amount of protein, low sugar, balanced fat, tasty, easy to cook, ability to make ahead during meal prep the night before, cooks for an hour or less,  and EVERYONE must like it! Is this too much to ask?  

So this month I have chosen to find breakfasts that I can make the night before.  All the prep can be done and all that is left is the heating or baking in the morning.  I like to exercise and pray a bit before the day, so I wanted something that I could pop in the oven before I head out for a walk...or something that takes just a little heat attention.  I wanted the breakfasts to be ready by 7am so we could begin school by 7:30. 

Does this sound like something that you want too?  

Here are the recipes:

Spinach white bean quesadillas

Kale and tomato egg bake

Sweet Potatoes Hash

Blueberry Breakfast Cake

Crustless Quiche

Here are the recipes that we tried and the ways they were able to help us get up and get going and stay going until lunch!  Hope they help you too!  

(Should I share like this for our lunches and dinner too?  I have had a few requests for meal planning help.  It can be quite the decision fatigue to make a menu over and over!)

See my stories on IG for photos.  

 

Claywork and Unwin Methods

For our Term 2 of this year, it was my goal to begin a weekly work of clay modeling.

I had previously downloaded and made a copy of the book by Mary Louisa Unwin.  This was one book that had been referenced in Charlotte Mason writings and used in schools. Download your own copy here from Hathitrust.

We began by making our modeling boards and attaching an armature as instructed in the book.  This was a fun day when Pop Pop brought over his skills and helped in our wood shop.  One board was made for each student and one for the teacher too.









These are the tools that I ordered.  The kit contained everything that was recommended in the book and more.




The clay I purchased was Sarget Art's Plastilina Modeling Clay.  It comes in a 5 pound block.  We have used it for eight weeks now and it's still going strong with five kids and one parent learner. 

Each Wednesday is a scheduled learning time.  I move to the next Model in the book.  We began with an orange like directed.  Second week we accomplished apples.  The third week plums were the model, but it's winter here so we used dried dates.  Models 4, 5 and 6 were pear, rock and lemon respectively.  For week 7 we were unable to do pea pod, so just skipped to acorn.   Model 9 is a Laurel leaf and I plan to use eucalyptus instead as we have some left over from Christmas! 

The children and I have a designated a 30 minute slot right after lunch once a week.  They are welcome to continue their work with the clay or move into other objects as they wish.  My high school son has been working on a duck decoy.  The younger boys are happy to make dragons and men as we have been reading some Tolkien folk tales which included some dragons.   I could see us using clay for some other narrations in the future! 

We do not keep these creations.  They are just practice work and perhaps we look at them for part of one day.  Then we return them to a plastic bag for our next clay time. 

Have you been able to include clay modeling work as part of you homeschooling experience?

 

Scouting and badge making

Our learning community, Sursum Corda, has been working through the Scouting guidelines.

Last year it was appropriate that we get a little handicraft action and make the badges for our group.  Our group is hosted in Illinois and our state bird is the cardinal.  We thought it best to use this bird as our nature club figure. 

Each child was given a little piece of muslin and support to draw a head of a cardinal lightly in pencil.  Then using different colors of embroidery thread they stitched their bird and the words Sursum Corda.  Holding the muslin in an embroidery hoop while sewing helped to keep the stitches straight.



When the embroidery was done, each child was given two little rounds of wool for backing and a 1 inch pin back to sew on.  I used pinking shears to create the serrated edge. Need help starting Embroidery?




 
The children wore these proudly at our meetings and our final showcase in Spring 2019.

At our next Term (Fall 2019), we began to work more systematically through the guidelines and having the mothers check for real knowledge of the skills.  At the beginning of the Term, I asked each child to make a commitment to complete a certain guideline and make weekly efforts towards it.  They wrote down on a note card their goal.  Each time we met groups were organized around each kind of guidelines.  The children would review and work towards greater understanding.
The last time we met for the Term I asked each mother to determine which kind of tassel (or if no tassel) should be awarded for the work of the Term.

At our Family Showcase, I offered the tassels to each child (I had sewn them on for them at home) as I announced their completion of guideline. 

Need help making tassels?  Here is a tutorial. For single colored tassel, use one color.  For bi-colored tassel, I used two shades of the same color  For tri-colored tassel, I used three shades.  Pictured above is for Starcraft-Plain tassel.   I used 10 strands for each tassel.  

This is a picture of all the badges with tassels attached waiting to be handed out at the Family Showcase night.



Have you tried your hand at badge making?  At Embroidery and tassel making? 

Parents are Peacemakers

At the Charlotte Mason Institute Eastern 2018 conference, I was pleased to purchase several copies of Parents Are Peacemakers reprint.  This booklet was discussion notes to be used for six group meetings on Peace.  I found the notes to be very eye opening and began to think how they could be used in my local group.

At our November 2018 book meeting, I mentioned that I had read and taken notes from this booklet and was considering a parent group to meet and discuss these topics.  There was an enthusiastic response.  I had already partnered with one couple to beginning meeting in January.  Now we had six more couples that would join us.

I have felt a disconnect for many of the dads in my local CM community.  They seem to shy away from discussions about Charlotte Mason.  I wanted them to feel just as confident as dads who have been reading the Volumes for years.  I wanted them to embrace the ideas in her books and share their hopes and wishes in making this philosophy a pillar of their lifestyle.

Would couples learning and reading provide a jumping off place them?  We have a local book group of 20-40 ladies who read the volumes together.  My husband seems to be the only dad who attends on occasion. There are a few other dads that show up from time to time.  It's difficult to get a babysitter for both parents, but what if that could happen what a lively sharing there could be.

Getting away when you have little children is difficult.  Being able to have the flexibility to join in book reading and discussions takes a lot of time. Would the benefits outweigh the burden of finding childcare?

How could we achieve a discussion group with dads involved? 
Here were my hopes:
Having a designated beginning and ending of the discussions seemed to make it more achievable.  Six sessions.  Once every three weeks.  Accomplished in a little over three months.

We kept fairly well to a time schedule so as to respect babysitters and time commitments.  We structured it to begin right after dinner on Friday nights. This allowed couples to have a date night before if possible and still arrive home at a timely hour.

Picture of one night of discussions

What was the outcome?  8 couples agreed to the meetings.  We tended to have six as the average attendance.  It was light hearted.  We laughed a lot.  We also had some great times at realizing our areas of change and what we needed to accomplish for growth.  Our hearts of caring for our children were enlarged. The encouragement shared between husbands was so comforting.  I think the pressure on dads is greater than we realize.  Our discussions were held at one of two homes.   It warmed the hearts during the cold Illinois winter months.

Think your community would like to host these discussions?  Here are some notes I made from the sessions.  I included a picture study each time.  It was my hope that the families would hang the picture in a place as a reminder of the goals and discussion that had followed the reading.  We usually began with a volunteer to begin our time with prayer.  I had a formal prayer or Bible verse to end our time together.

You are most welcome to use these notes to accomplish a couples or mother discussion in your area. If your community completes this, please let me know about your success!

Orchestrating Large Families

I gave a talk at the Living Education Retreat in 2017 on large families.
I reflect here on my notes and my ramblings...

As people often ask me how I manage a large family, I thought it best to take a different view of the impact a mother has.  What if instead of being a drill instructor or manager of a zoo we compared our roles as mothers to one who conducts music on a large scale?

If you've ever visited an orchestra before, you can envision with me what it's like.  You walk down rows of seats to find the one in which you will sit.  There is a lavish heavy dark curtain hiding the musicians on stage or in the "pit".  Perhaps you can hear them tuning up.  One instrument plays a lone note (A on the clarinet to be exact) and all the others instruments match their tones to it.  They want to all play in tune.

The lights go low in the seating area.  There is a sense of mystery.  You settle into your soft chair.  You know you are in for a treat.  Perhaps you dressed up before you came tonight.  You had a sense that this was special.  Your eyes begin to adjust to the darkness of the room and the bright lights come up on the stage.  The curtain begins to fold back to the edges of the stage.  You see the musicians seated with their instruments at rest.

And THEN....

THE conductor walks onto stage.  His (or her!) presence seems large for every single musician has their eyes riveted to this person.  We, as the audience, are spell bound.  We clap vigorously.  We have expectations that this will be a wonderful night of music.  Perhaps the musicians even stamp their feet to add to the noise of joy.  Have you arrived with me at the time for real music? 

So are you the conductor in your family?  Do you get a standing ovation when you arrive?  Do the participants clap wildly when you make your appearance?
 Or are you a manager hidden in the side lines?  Are you cowering in the box office or behind the lights? 

I believe we as mothers could "manage" our family, but I believe that we are called to conduct. 

What if we as mothers respected each instrument in this family orchestra that God has given us to conduct?  What if we looked at each instrument and it's player as one who needs space to play to their potential? Each of us are given different notes to play.  Each of us are called to be what God wants us to be.  It's not about all conforming to one image that a mother has for perfection.  But in seeing each child as a person, a gift, we let them grow into who God wants them to be.  They play their instrument just the way He created them to.   They make the sounds that are pleasing to God.

What if we as mothers used the gifts that we already possess to do the best job possible?  If we conducted rather than managed (or mangled) the music of these persons in our life into our own likeness?

I encourage you to follow me down this musical journey of considering how your family can play it's best music!  We have the opportunity to play a symphony of music that is worship of thankfulness to our heavenly Father!

In each family, God has given us a chance to play for his glory.  We make music whether we realize it or not.  It's music that uplifts and delights or it's music that weighs down and discourages.

Think of a violin played out of tune.  All squeaky and painful to the ears.  Or a piano that is banged upon instead of lightly touched?  All the noises can come out.  But what a blessing when it's a noise that makes others smile instead of covering their ears.

So how do we encourage each of the gifts in our children to be nourished to their highest potential?  How to we stimulate the music to be it's best when played upon the instrument of the soul of the child?

Is it by always being present and available?  Is it by giving roots and wings?  Is it by the wise passiveness of sometimes letting them make mistakes? 

I've been wondering these questions as my children grow too quickly!  Do you wonder about large families and making sure each persons uniqueness adds the family without making something sound out of tune? 

Scouting Guidelines: IX Starcraft

As my local learning community makes their way through the scouting guidelines, I've been considering how we might make this Terms "Starcraft" extra fun.  Have you looked at the Guidelines and considered using them as you study with your children?

Enjoy using this to help you discover ways to get science, nature study, handwriting, composition, expressions of personality and knowledge recorded in a fun way!

Starcraft Guidelines help

Parents and Children

My local Charlotte Mason book group has been slowly reading Volume 2, Parents and Children, over one year.  It seems that there are so many principles worth implementing!

I've been working on some supporting lists of books that were either mentioned in this volume or modern books used by my family to facilitate our growth of life.

You may wish to use this list to help you through your reading too!

Have you found any books to align with the Charlotte Mason book about character for Parents and Children?

Math games

For nearly 10 years I've been hosting a Math games group at my local library.  The beauty of the group is that it's open to any homeschoolers.  It's a social way for my kids to meet other homeschoolers and ponder math concepts together.

I had been reading more about Charlotte Mason math and what little I could find on it from the Volumes!  It seemed that it was a given that people of Masons time knew the best practice for introducing math and continuing to teach it!  I felt like support would be helpful to me and my kids.

It began when I had two daughters that were 6 and 8.  We had been using RightStart Math as our guide to find our way through math concepts.  I had met Joan Cotter when my oldest was 4 and she highly recommended playing games together to support math.  I bought her Math games guide book.  I played math games with my dear daughter.  And soon she got tired of playing with only me.

As soon as her younger sister could play some of the games with her we invited her to play, too.  It WAS more fun to play with other kids.  So with that our math games group (or math games club) was born.  I hoped that some of the concepts we had learned at home could be encouraged, nurtured and reinforced with joy of other kids.

We continue to enjoy our time so much!  We currently meet just once a month.  We have kids from age 2 to 14.  Our gatherings are very open.  Kids and moms are spread out around the room with a whole variety of games.  Sometimes moms play with children who are not their own.  Other times kids are playing in groups they organize.  I encourage a child to consider what they want to know more about and pick the games that interest them.

What are the favorite games of the kids? 
The current favorite games are corners (a RightStart Math game), UNO, some Family Math games from the Family Math series-especially the Algebra games and Money War.  We've added Sloyd and Geography over the years as well.  It's a real joy to complete Sloyd with others your same age!

How did I go about setting it up?  
I asked the local library to use (for free) their multipurpose room.  In years past, it was free for local persons.  When the library was upgraded and remodeled, the room now was a cost to anyone. Thankfully the librarians wanted us to keep coming and offered to host the math games if I would be the organizer! So we continue to offer it free!

I invite homeschoolers I know.  I advertise the math games on my local CM book group Facebook page.  I had put an invite out in years past for homeschoolers in the area.  And my local library advertises on their calendar page.

It's important to organize the time to not conflict with our afternoon occupations.  We have found the middle afternoon time to be best.  We like to be finished with our games by the time the school kids come to the library.  We've met from 1-2 or 2-3 in the past.  One hour seems to be plenty of time to visit the different games offered.

What is the format?
I'm quite selfish in that I see where my children are and what concepts need reinforced.  I pick a few games that will make them feel confident and a few that will challenge them.  I put six to eight games out on tables and we wait for the club members to arrive!
Sometimes we wait patiently to welcome them.  Other times we can't wait to begin playing and just begin right away!
When about 30 minutes has transpired, I say in a loud voice that half of their time is up and that they would be wise to find another game to play.  Some games take less than 10 minutes.  Many times they are on their third or fourth game by the 30 minute warning.  Those that are just meeting Sloyd for the first time might still be struggling with their lines!  But overall the children are able to play four to five games in the 1 hour time slot.
Other moms have brought games that their families have enjoyed.  My kids have really appreciated learning math concepts from their friends with these new games!

What suggestions would I have for a family hoping to start Math games?  
Start small.  When you have a couple of larger families, perhaps two families is enough to begin.  I have found about 20-30 kids is a good size.  But you can play with just three or four kids!  The most faithful families that attend do not embrace a Charlotte Mason education completely and this allows for some nice discussion between kids!

Are there any concerns I should be aware of?
Sometimes seeing other kids only once a month can make some children feel shy.  If this is the case, consider meeting more often to develop the friendships.

Make sure to include the moms.  This is not a drop off Math club!  Moms interacting with kids that are not their own can create some wonderful relationships!

Have you tried playing Math games with other families?  What has been your experience?

Talking about Living Books

Last May one of my highschoolers and one of my younger boys talked about Living Books.  You might enjoy this video recording their discussion. 

Keeping a Nature Journal in a narrative style

This is a post in response to "Can you give some examples of narrative style of Nature Journaling?"

Here is a nice two page spread of a student from Scale How.  I took these photos in May 2017 when I visited Ambleside.



Here is is transcribed.
We went up Loughrigg on (May 22nd) Tuesday.  It was a very hot and it was very hard climbing, so we rested half way up and enjoyed the view of the Lake.  
There was a boat in the Brathay river under the Brathay rocks which looked very cool.  We all thought we would liked to of been there.  
When we got to the top there was such a nice cool breeze that we all felt glad we had climbed up instead of returning.  
We found Phlox, milkwort, campion, Birds-foot trefoil, Jugnut, sundew, Iris, Good-King-All, Meadows Cranes Bile, Yellow Pimpernel, Stitch wort and Bog Bear.  We came back by Canon Bells and up stony lane.  We found a great many new flowers which we were very pleased with and we all enjoyed our walk very much and we also hope to again shortly when the mountain primrose are out in full bloom.  

The next page has a brush drawing in color that seems to be from a month earlier!  But it seems the painting was pasted in.  This is very common in the archives to see a narrative of what they did supported by the drawing/sketch/brush drawing.

Here is another and it's transcription.

June 6th
I saw a dragon-fly flying near Rydal today.  It was the first one that I had seen this year.  It had very transparent wings, which looked very much as though they were made of cellophane paper.  
June 9th.
I saw a peculiar animals running into the rushes at Bletham turn.  It was mouse colored and about the size of (a pheasant)?, it had a humped back and a fairly small head, it's tail was long, flat and hairy and it had fairly short legs and seemed to run smoothly, we looked for it in the rushes but couldn't find it.  There was only one Great-crested grebe to be seen today, I suppose the other one was sitting on the nest, the one we saw came out from the rushes at the far end of the tarn.  

I think maybe she saw a muskrat--What do you think?
You can see that she drew a bug and a flower she saw on each of these dates, but didn't really elaborate about them.

Here are a few examples from my children and myself:




Here are two examples of bookmarks we use to help find the next page in our nature journals.  Is it just my pet peeve that my kids have just opened their nature journals anywhere to start a new entry?

Print your own copies of bookmarks here.  Or fold your own sloyd corner paper bookmark with instructions here. 

New beginnings

This past month I helped my daughter move into her college dorm.  It's quite a transition from going from a Charlotte Mason homeschool setting to a public conservatory/university.  She had learned the habit of sharing (with five younger siblings) so the prospect of sharing a room with only one person seemed easy!

Homeschooling affords some opportunities of sheltering our children.  I took those opportunities.  I watched over those early years of influence.  We were careful about protecting our eyes and ears from seeing and watching things that would hinder our growth both in the spiritual and physical realms.
I gently helped create boundaries to allow for silence in her life.  I fostered chances to volunteer and to rest.  I wondered if this would be enough.  Would she have internalized the hopes we had for her?  Would she find the habit of silence and nature and beauty for herself?

As my children have grown, we have allowed them more and more freedom to learn about the harshness of the world and the realities that exist. But going from a safe Christian environment both in home and school and circles of friends, to not having any of those things that are familiar is quite a shock.  I prayed that the Holy Spirit would continue to be heard by her.  That she would take advantage of the opportunities of new experiences and choose well.  And I continue to pray.

I talk to my college aged daughter everyday right now.  I ask her what things fill her time.  I was delighted to hear of her need for continuing those things that brought life into our home and homeschool. There is a botanical garden across the street from her dorm.  She's so well known by the front check in person that she no longer has to show her ID.  We share photo texts of plants we find interesting.  I love seeing the flora and fauna that catch her eye these days.  I hope she likes seeing things from back home.

She's been fostering friendships outside of her college as well.  Just in the first month she has spent weekends with Charlotte Mason families, couples who no longer have children at home and families who don't homeschool.  She has a desire to volunteer at a local church.  It makes my heart glad and helps to balance my tears to know that she is finding her way.

Have you found new beginnings to be both stretching and balancing?

Reflecting on the Living Education Retreat

How does one reflect on a retreat centered around the theme of Simplicity?

By writing very little.  By not thinking of ones self.  At all.

So there you have it.

What you want more?

I had a delightful time rekindling the friendships from years past.  Germinating new friendships that are guaranteed to last.  Seeing new beauty in poetry and art and music.  And breathing deep the fresh lake smells.

Do you need more?  Less about me.  And more about what it's like to be at the Living Education Retreat?

but WHY?  I wonder.


Nancy Kelly and her tight group of friends have been rocking a retreat (NOT A CONFERENCE) for the past 12 years.  I have been blessed to attend for nearly half that time.  It took me nearly six years to think I could afford the time, money and space to attend.  And I have been dragging bringing my husband along for the past three years.

So that gives you a pause right there.  A couples retreat?  wow.  Yes.  A chance for families who use a Charlotte Mason approach to send BOTH parents off to find silence, space and encouragement far out on the prairie.

I think the LER (Living Education Retreat) specializes in interesting spaces.  This year (same as last year) we met at church conference center on Lake Okaboji.  The space was teaming with wild life and WILD life.  For many persons find this expansive lake to be good for boating.

The LER also focuses on facilitating friendships.  I find that the iron of others sharpens the iron in my life.  (Or maybe rock tumbler is a better analogy?)  I get encouraged to know why I say I believe what I do.

I get inspired to try and adhere even more to a Charlotte Mason approach.  I am forced to slow down and to hear the voice of God in the silence.

This year I brought two of my children.  They relished in the slower time.  They grew friendships.  I enjoyed simple times with them.  Walks.  Canoe rides. Morning prayer.  

And in simplicity I was reminded why we do this.

Graduating your first child from your homeschool

How can a parents pride of the accomplishments of child and the hopes for their future mingle?  It's a swirling water place.  Perhaps because the water isn't clear all the way to the bottom.  Or the swiftness of the movement of the water.  You ride along almost weightless.
I'm finding it important to carve our moments to savor the view and not always be carried on by the quickness of the flow.

I mentioned to a friend recently that this senior year of highschool went too fast for me.  I'm not sure if it was me holding my breath which made it so breathless or if the view was just so quickly moving.  I have watched other homeschooling mothers and fathers as they send that first child off to school.  I have a dim understanding from an outsiders point of view.  In just a few short weeks, I will begin to understand what it means to have a child leave the nest of safety we have made.

Both my husband and I did the gentle transition to college.  We went to a junior college and lived at home for the first two years.  Even in those first two years of college we both made changes in our life choices.  We didn't finish the initial dreams we had for ourselves.  I'm happy with the journey that our lives have taken us on and brought us to today.  I think that the bumps of life up to this place created resilience in us.

So as I process my own journey forward, I asked my daughter to write a reflection on her years of being homeschooled with a Charlotte Mason approach.  Soon after my request, she was invited to share at a homeschool conference.

Here are her words in essay form that she was willing to share with the public:

How A Charlotte Mason Education Influenced My Life

As a Charlotte Mason child, my education truly began at birth. Atmosphere is certainly so incredibly influential. As I look back upon the almost 18 years of my existence, I am overwhelmed with the amount of blessings and opportunities I have been given through a Charlotte Mason education. Today I will share a few ways in which I feel my CM education has truly influenced where I am today. 

This fall I will make the trek out to Cleveland, Ohio where I will begin my studies in viola performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music. This is, and had been no small feat, and I will be forever grateful to my parents, family, and close friends that have been wonderfully supportive with their help and prayers. Although in addition to this great support, I believe my education has really fostered and encouraged the musician I am today. I can only imagine how a young momma can feel somedays as she’s plodding through the weekly composer study. But yet, composer study is one of the many things that has always been close to my heart and now I’m finding how nice it is to know so much about composers! Most of my fellow music majors don’t have the knowledge, or even the desire to learn more about the composers they plan to spend their lives playing. It’s also super nice to go to an orchestra concert, hear the music playing and be able to say, hey! I know who wrote this! This is the guy that started piano at age 5 and his hands had a span of a whole twelve inches! (I always love the little smirk-smile that fills Mom’s face after one of us kids has a little ahah moment.) And naturally, to my family’s great joy and delight, by being homeschooled I was given the flexibility to spend a whole lot more time practicing then some of my friends.

Another subject I have always loved is, well, I suppose you could call it English? As soon as little me could read, I read. A lot. And reading is still one of my favorite things to do. This past semester I took a composition class at the community college in Peoria, IL. I can still remember the look on my teacher’s face on the first day of class when she asked us all to share with the rest of the class the last book we had read, and why we had read it. I shared that I had just finished the Brothers Karamozov and it was entirely by my selection. Her face was simply priceless. I cannot say that I only read books of the thickness and intensity of Dostoyevsky. However, I can say that I am very thankful that I even possess the ability to read it. I found myself surprised how many of my classmates at this community college didn’t read. In our “normal” American culture it isn’t even “normal” to read. How incredibly sad is that? I will now proceed to thank you for investing in your child’s future by simply reading to them. It is something they will treasure forever. 

Now, when asked to write this I was encouraged to include both the pleasant, as well as the less pleasant aspects of my Charlotte Mason education. Honestly I had to think a little bit when it came to the bad. Honestly I cannot say that anything about my education was truly bad. However I can say that there was at least one part of my CM education in particular that gave me cause to use both the virtues of patience as well as perseverance. This would most certainly be Nature Journaling. (I love the outdoors, don’t get me wrong.) However, as much as I enjoy hiking, observing nature and all that fun stuff, I’ve never been super keen on the artistic part of it. Drawing, painting, sketching and the like, have always been a genuine struggle for me. Although I have spent most of my life being strongly encouraged to put something in my nature journal every day, I’m still working on choosing to enjoy it. I have the years ahead of me to continue growing this lovely skill. 

Therefore, in essence, I want to thank you for choosing to invest in your children’s futures in such a rich and beautiful way. I am forever grateful and I hope to continue this growth of observing the truth, beauty, and goodness in this world and I hope to one day share it with my own kiddos.

So you want to visit Ambleside...

After many years of speaking about Charlotte Mason and reading her volumes (and other writings), my children are wildly familiar with her.  I started a tradition this year of taking our graduating senior on a trip of her choice.  My dear daughter decided England would be a good choice.  And Ambleside was on our list.

Off we go!

We packed very light.  One back pack each.  We wanted to be able to move quickly and light was the way to go.
We each purchased heavy duty hiking WATERPROOF boots.  I purchased Merrell ventilator womens boots with ankle support and my daughter got Oboz.  Our feet were dry and happy!

It's good to also purchase water proof jackets to keep out the rain.  I did bring along an umbrella, but a water proof hat would have been fine on it's own.  North Face and Columbia are great options.
(Think fishermans hats-Outdoor Research or Under Armour might be good choices)  If all else fails, there are MANY hiking clothes shops in Ambleside that are open.  It would have been easy to spend lots of money!  And then you have a great souvenir with a European brand!

My pack with some of our pre-reading materials.

Getting to England is just one or two plane rides away.  We found the best time to visit for us was Spring.  We could avoid bringing a warmer jacket and perhaps avoid much of the rainy times.  

We chose to fly out of Chicago and right into London.  We also had some other sightseeing to do.  

Next time we will fly into Manchester which is much closer to the Lake District.  Buy your plane ticket about 45 days ahead or set up a reminder to let you know when prices drop.

Good bye Chicago

Traveling was very easy in England.  No need to rent a car.  Public transportation (although sometimes requires waiting) is very easy to follow and accessible.  We rode a bus or walked everywhere.  In London buy an Oyster reloadable card to access both the underground trains or the above ground buses.  Cards are purchased in the underground terminals.  London is broken up into zones and prices are based on how many zones you pass through.  Passing 11 miles or so is around $5.  Many days we walked more than 8 miles and also rode the bus!  

Top of a double decker bus

The fast train from London to the Lake District (Windermere) was less than 3 hours.  We were able to leave in the morning and get to the Ambleside around lunch time.  Buying your ticket online ahead of time, perhaps two weeks ahead, allows you to get a better price.  I downloaded the app for the Virgin Trains and my ticket was completely digital.  Easy!

Fast train

Giving the information about our travel from the app

We found people to be VERY kind.  When we looked lost, someone offered us help.  Other times we asked people as we went along.  

Outside toilet in Ambleside

This was one of the public bathrooms.  This was about 25 cents and worth about that much.  These were most often used by hikers.  Simple, but very usable.

Adding to my nature journal on the fast train with a scone for energy

In the Lake District, you can buy a 3 day or a 7 day bus pass.  This is extremely helpful. Most towns are close to each other (4 miles or so), but walking is through the country!  Roads are so narrow that it's not wise to walk the same roads as the trains and buses.  Most roads were built for horse and cart.  The bus stops carry the name of the buses that pass through there and where they are going.  Usually a meter maid is lingering around selling tickets or you can purchase from the bus driver.  

calm travel on the fast train

Waiting for a train patiently with the one book she brought along, Emma.

We chose to stay at a Bed and Breakfast very close to the Armit in Ambleside.

Looking through the archives at the Armit

It was literally a block away.  Staying at local place allowed us to hear more about the local culture and habits of the people.  We got a great hearty breakfast made for us each morning and snacks in our rooms in the afternoon.  We were able to choose to eat at the local restaurants or get simple meal items at the local grocery store.

View from our room

The outlets require a three prong.  It is very wise to purchase an adapter IF you need them.  There are USB ports nearly everywhere which are useful for phone recharging.  Everywhere we stayed had a hairdryer so my adapter was only used for phone charging.  

the light switches from our cute little B&B

The outlets and switches are little different in the U.K.  The switches are down for on and up for off.  Just exactly the opposite of what we have in the U.S.  

the view from inside the Bridge House

One night we at a simple dinner and hiked for two hours until 9pm.  It was delightful to have so much fresh air.  Most of the walks we were on were very quiet of humans.  But noisy of animals!  They allow highland cattle and sheep to free range graze in the areas of public pathways.

Hiking around Rydal Water

Hopefully this helps you understand the getting to Ambleside.  I hope to share more of what we saw and learned there in the coming months!