Month: June 2021

10 on the 10th!

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized23 Comments
10 Questions About Summer:
Today I am linking up with Leslie at Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After and her 10 on the 10th for the first time. Check it out here!
  1. What will make summer successful for you this year?

I think for summer I want one that is relaxed and happy. That is what would make summer successful for me. Lots of bonfires, picnics, hanging out with friends and family over drinks in the yard, simple dinners, playing and learning and exploring during the day with Wyatt. And – at least one monarch to visit my yard and lay eggs!

  1. “500 Days of Summer,” “School’s Out for Summer,” somersault, “The Boys of Summer,” “Summertime Blues,” “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” dog days of summer, “Endless Summer,” “Summertime and the Living is Easy”…which of these phrases resonates most with you and your plans for the summer of ’21 and why?

Well, looking at my list from above, I am going to go with Summertime and the Living is Easy.

  1. What do you look forward to doing this summer that you couldn’t do last summer because of C-O-V-I-D? What plans did you have last summer that had to be postponed, altered or canceled all together?

I would LOVE to travel to northern Michigan this summer. I am not sure if that is in the cards but that would be a definite return to normal for us. Hmm. Maybe I will start looking into that. Also visiting our favorite places again, places like the zoo and Henry Ford Greenfield Village.

  1. Name something you will track this summer. Steps, calories, Weight Watcher points, money spent, books read, miles traveled, workout sessions, laps swam, miles run, gatherings with friends.  How will you track it?

At first I didn’t think I was going to track anything – but then I realized I am going to track the number of butterflies I raise and release! I think I will probably only have Black Swallowtail and hopefully Monarchs but you never know what little caterpillar will inch its way into the yard. I have my first three Black Swallowtails hanging out already, tiny caterpillars just eating their way through the dill and the rue. I have named these three Uno, Dos, and Tres.

  1. Is there something new you look forward to trying this season? New recipe, new ‘do, new restaurant, new vacation spot?

I just got my haircut today! It has been one length for so long. Today I had long layers cut into and I love it. My stylist always straightens my hair and I look in the mirror and can’t recognize myself. I think I am going to like this cut though! But I will think of another one too.. hmm. Well, I am eating meat for the first time in my adult life so I will definitely be trying new recipes. But a new restaurant would be fun too!

  1. Share something you do on repeat every summer. Why is this activity on repeat?  Were you able to do that familiar activity last year during the pandemic?

Breakfasts with Wyatt on the front porch, and evening drink on the porch with Billy. This is how we know it is summer! It’s not anything fancy but we love it. And we definitely did it last summer.

  1. Who will you connect with or reconnect with this summer?

My parents and my in-laws for sure! My brother and his family. And my bestie crew. We are going to resume book club even for this month, and just ease our way in- meaning we are just talking about our current reads.

  1. This season how will you manage screen time for yourself and your family?

The trick this year is to manage Wyatt’s screen time! With his health conditions he gets overheated really easily so summer is hard for us. I have to find shady places and different ways to keep him busy that are inside – so maybe one more summer of picnics in our tree grove and lots of art time and different ways to play at home. The fact that we are still going to be schooling some over the summer will help. July is all about Italy and I have some fun ideas up my sleeve. Billy and I only watch an hour of tv a night so that is not bad, and keep busy the rest of the time.

  1. What project are you hoping to tackle this summer?  Something around the house?  A craft?  A gardening or outdoor activity?

We are doing a bedroom refresh this month and probably into next month too. Then, that is it for big projects. I would love to can more this year, and make jam too.

  1. How do you want to feel at the end of the summer?

I want to feel like we soaked up the best of the summer, enjoying the times with friends and family, good fresh food from the garden and farm markets, lots of lazy days and busy days both, and that we are ready to slow down and be cozy again.

How about you? What are your thoughts about this summer? Any plans, big or small?

World Ocean Day!

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized8 Comments

It’s World Oceans Day! I actually didn’t know this existed until this morning and I saw it on Instagram. The things I learn from there. Anyway, how appropriate that we are having an ocean unit this month! Let’s pretend I totally knew and planned it.

Last week I posted about our first week of our study, which was pretty fun. We focused on smaller creatures, like seahorses and crabs and jellyfish. Yesterday we started with sea turtles, a favorite of mine. We did a bunch of stuff, but we also read a few picture books, one of which was very traumatic for all of us. Turtle Tide, which is a very good book, full of honest, truthful information – but too much for our sensitive crew. In the book the momma turtle makes her way toward land, digs her nest, lays her eggs, heads back to sea. The babies are born, and make their way to the ocean. Now most of us know that the majority of these babies never make it. And the book illustrated that for us, with them being attacked and killed and eaten on their journey. True facts but I guess our kiddos were not ready for it to be so in their faces. My mom and niece were watching the read aloud on YouTube and Dino Girl was very unhappy with it and started yelling for my mom to turn it off – while I was reading Wyatt got very anxious as well, so I skipped some pages. We are apparently very sensitive over here. I didn’t even want to read about these little babies getting plucked up or the eggs eaten. Nature does what nature needs to do though.

However, the kids were so upset and wanted to know what they could do to help. We don’t live near a beach with sea turtles so we can’t do anything hands on, so we decided to adopt a sea turtle from The Sea Turtle Conservancy. We decided to make it a little service project, one that is easily attainable. It’s pretty simple. The kids will have to do a daily chore that is picked out by mom and dad and for that they will earn a dollar. When each kid gets to seven dollars which would be almost half the price when put together, then we the parents will kick in the remaining money. It looks like they might get a tracking number as well, that allows them to check in on the turtles and see where in the world they are, which is really neat!

I made the kids these little trackers so they can see where they are with their goal. (and I see there is a typo but I had a cat licking my hand the whole time I was typing…lol)

Neither one of the kids have been to the ocean, something that all of us plan to rectify next spring. We are planning a family trip to Chincoteague Island for a week long visit, something that is long overdue for all of us. My brother and his family are big beach people, so I am sure they will spend a lot of their time in the water and on the beach. The three of us are more trails people so we will probably do some beach mornings followed up by trail hiking. And we will all do the sightseeing and of course, all the pony stuff! I remember visiting Chincoteague as a tween before it was called tween, and I loved it there. It made a huge impression on me, and on my brother as well and we have always talked about going back. I am so excited it is in the works! We are taking our mom and also my sister-in-law’s mother as well, and I think it will be a wonderful time. Living in the Great Lakes State, we have giant lakes that you can’t see across, the go on and on. But the ocean is something entirely different.

I plan on adding some fun additions to our lessons that I found on the World Ocean Day website! They have a whole searchable database of lessons and activities that makes it easy. You just plug in the age range, duration of lesson, and learning area that you want to concentrate on and they will supply the lesson. There is a lesson on music inspired by the ocean that looks interesting. Even if we don’t actually do the lesson part, I usually play music throughout the day and I didn’t even think to add any ocean inspired music. And now, my mind is going to sea shanties too… They also have book lists, which you know I love!

Let me know if you do anything for World Ocean Day, whether it is taking action (like choosing to use reusable straws from now on or signing a petition), listening to music inspired by the sea, reading a poem or a book – anything at all! I would love to hear. Maybe you will even get to walk along the beach today!

My Sunday-Monday Post

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized22 Comments

My Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Our library is back open for browsing! I went in the other day and was completely overwhelmed by all the book choices honestly, and left with one picture book for Wyatt (which was ok since I have 22 others checked out for him right now) and nothing for myself. Yesterday I attempted it again – and this time left with a nice little stack of books for myself! It was nice to chat with the staff, some of whom I have known since I was three years old! It was sort of strange as well – I was the only patron in there, there were two staff members, and that was it. No phones ringing, no kids chattering in the kids section, the copy machine wasn’t whirring – it was the most quiet the library has ever been. But I am so glad it is open again for browsing! They did a great job over the past year, filling holds, even choosing books for you if requested but for those of us who enjoy just going to the library, it wasn’t quite the same, so it was nice to be back.

Read Last Week:

I am almost done with this one, and while it is not bad, it is also not super gripping, at least for me. Not a slog, but also not one I feel like I HAVE to know what is going on. I will finish it up this week, hopefully tomorrow.

Reading This Week:

Updated: No sooner had I posted this than I remembered that I have a book I have to read this week for a NetGalley review! So my library books have to wait until I finish this one – which shouldn’t be a hardship, it sounds fantastic!!

Posted Last Week:

Homeschooling: Ocean Week 1

Currently..

Hello June!

Watching:

Jonathan Creek, although they switched it up again (S5) and it is maybe the fourth time so far? I’m not sure I like so much change! Wyatt is watching Molly of Denali, and Wild Kratts still. We haven’t watched any movies in a while! Maybe tonight, there are a few I want to see!

Homeschooling: Ocean Week 1

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn homeschooling7 Comments

We are in the last few weeks of Kindergarten! It’s hard to believe honestly. While we finish up our regular curriculum, we are also going to do a month long unit about the ocean! Last month my dad and stepmom went to Florida for a few weeks and brought my son and niece back a bunch of books, shells, posters, and sea glass to go along with their lessons. They have enjoyed exploring their discovery table this week!

We started Tuesday with an introduction to the ocean and ocean layers. We made an ocean layer jar – well I did while I explained to the kids, a little demo – and I had to improvise as I did not have Karo syrup. I subbed molasses which didn’t quite work and the bottom layers were a bit muddled. But the kids got the main point of what I wanted to illustrate, so I am calling it a win. My dad also brought the kids back stuffed animal sharks that I surprised them with on our kick off day.

We also started off with small creatures this week, crabs and jellyfish and seahorses. I have to admit, I was pretty fascinated by some of the facts we learned about jellyfish. I can’t say I had read anything about them ever before, so it was kind of all new to me as well. Two things I learned – that jellyfish sort of float out of their mother’s mouths when they are born, and that they don’t have a brain. Since it was a short week and we had a lot to fit in, our craft project this week was a simple one, but both kids enjoyed it. Paper plate jellyfish! Well, my niece had a paper plate one, I yet again had to improvise. I apparently did not have my materials together this week! This time though, my improvisations turned out. I don’t have a picture of Dino Girl’s but it was super cute.

Resource Round Up:

Ocean Animals Mega Unit from Crystal McGinnis

Ocean Zones Jar

Books We Read:

This section contains affiliate links

Night of the Moonjellies by Mark Shasha || Hello Ocean by Pam Munoz Ryan

I absolutely loved Night of the Moonjellies, and so did the kids and my mom. I think it is a new favorite for all of us. I couldn’t recommend it more!

And really this is it for this week! Next week is all about sea turtles (my favorite) and sharks!

Currently….

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized29 Comments

It’s that time again! I’m joining up with Anne in Residence for her monthly Currently..post. This month we are talking about what we are celebrating, collecting, gifting, thinking, and trying!

Celebrating: This one is easy! We are celebrating the addition of our newest family member, born last Friday! My cousin and his wife had their third son on the 28th, named Francis (Frankie) Elias. Frankie is named for our grandfather, and I absolutely love it. He is so darn cute and I can’t wait to meet him! Mom and baby are doing great.

Collecting: Ideas and art for our bedroom refresh that we are starting this month. We loved how the office turned out so much that now we are eyeing other rooms. Our bedroom has not been repainted since we moved in twenty years ago!! It is high time to rectify that. Not only have our tastes changed it’s just been too long. I can’t wait! I already have a few pieces picked out that I want to get but I won’t let myself pull the trigger until we actually start. It will be my reward. This is one that I have in mind. If you follow me here regularly, you will know that I love all things nature and I dig this artist. I bought her fox print for the office, and I kind of like the idea of carrying that idea into another room.

(art by FainaLorah Luna Moth Art Print)

Gifting: Not too much right now? I do have my eyes open for Father’s Day gifts and ideas!

Thinking: About summer and what we want to accomplish – or not accomplish. We want to finish up the bedroom and then sort of spend the rest of the summer without projects except being together, exploring nature, having fires and drinks with family, going on picnics and visiting some of our favorite places. We want a relaxed summer, one that ends with everyday feeling that good kind of tired.

Trying: To encourage butterflies to our yard! Specifically, monarchs. The past few years my friends have all “raised” monarchs to give them more of a fighting chance at survival. This summer, I think Wyatt and I will be joining in. I planted milkweed and all sorts of different plants to entice butterflies, so hopefully we will see some monarch caterpillars hanging out in the garden soon. I am going to have my mom do it too, I think she will like it!

And that is it for this month! Check back next month where we will be discussing what we are currently eating, feeling, going, ordering, and realizing.

Hello June!

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized8 Comments

Hello June! Hello summer! I know it is not officially summer yet, but to me June is always the start of summer.

We spent the long weekend fully embracing the season as much as we could. Our Friday plans were rained out – we had a ton of rain and it was cold to boot – so instead of the zoo we bought a bunch of crafts and new paints and hung out at the table just painting and creating. However, Saturday and the rest of the weekend was gorgeous and we took full advantage.

Saturday we had reservations for one of our favorite places to visit, Greenfield Village. We didn’t get to go last year so it was so nice to be back! It was a beautiful morning, sunny and mild, the perfect kind of day to walk around the village and ride the train.

On Sunday we headed downtown. We stopped in at Astoria Bakery, another favorite that we haven’t been to in a year. Wyatt and I waited in the car while Billy ran in and picked up some surprise goodies to eat when we got to our next destination, Belle Isle. Just as Billy was coming out a mounted police officer came clip-clopping down the street and kindly stopped for a photo. Wyatt was not super enthused – the horse kind of freaked him out, although he was a sweet and handsome boy named Ivan.

Loaded up with a box full of goodies, we headed further into the city to Belle Isle. We had forgotten all about the Detroit Grand Prix, and to our surprise they had started setting up for it. They didn’t have it last year but this year things are back in full swing. One crazy sort of neat thing is they set up a week or so before the race and people visiting the island can just drive around the course. So we tootled around it in our Subaru feeling cool before finding a place to park and eat our car goodies. Billy picked out a lot, apparently he felt we needed to make up for all those lost weekends. A piece of torte cake to share, a lemon muffin, and chocolate chip cookies.. we ate all of it except the muffin. The cookies were amazing!

Monday was Memorial Day and we always spend it with my dad. My dad served in the Marines and did two tours in Vietnam, and lost friends and platoon members while there, and while we all remember those who served, I know that his perspective is different. I think spending the day with his grandchildren makes it a little easier.

We had a great time all together. It was the first time that we had been to his house since last Christmas, and it was more than nice to be with each other again. I got to hug my dad for the first time in a year! The kids had a blast, and we spent practically the whole day outside, trading being with the kids, and chatting with the family. There was so much food and so much catching up to do. The day flew by and it was time to go home before we knew it.

I feel like we gave May a good send off, and we are looking forward to the summer!