Archive for January 2014
We Love Our Backyard Chickens … But They’re Not for Everyone
Britt and I were just talking the other day about how crazy it is that we’ve become chicken people…not crazy, walking around with feathers in our hair and chicken poop on our clothes chicken people (well most of the time), but chicken-owning, chicken-loving chicken people. When we got married we would have never dreamed of…
Read MoreSnow Days … the Perfect Time to Gather and to Connect
One Tuesday back in 2014 I spent over four hours stuck in gridlocked, icy roads desperately trying to drive a carload of 2nd graders back to school from a field trip to anxiously waiting parents. Many a moment along that journey the feat seemed impossible…the kids hadn’t had lunch, some desperately needed to go to…
Read MoreSnow Days … the Perfect Time to Pause and to Play
Being the Florida boy that I am … the closest thing I had to a snow day growing up was having to stay home from school because of a hurricane. But those days were characterized by simply being stuck inside and fearing that our windows were going to be blown in. I’ve since learned that…
Read MoreFun Friday Find: Nature Cards
After reflecting on my last post, I was thinking that some of you may be wanting to foster exploration in your kids and get them outside adventure-ing (my new word), but maybe you don’t know how, maybe you feel your kids aren’t naturally wired as explorers or maybe they’ve become “bored” with their typical outside…
Read MoreThese Boots Are Made for Exploring!
A beautiful Spring-like day in January beckoned us to get outside for some major playtime and exploration this past weekend – knowing that some bitter cold temperatures would be moving back in soon. As Doug wrote in his last post, he and Brown-Brown had recently cleared a path to the old, dried up lakebed behind our home…
Read MoreDo you know where your kids are?
As I was starting out on this whole redeem your ground journey, I was told by two completely unrelated people that I should read “The Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder” by Richard Louv. And I’m so glad that they did. It’s a great read – it’s thought-provoking and for…
Read MoreThe Burlap Wreath | Year’round Door Decor
Since Doug shared what he made for the family Christmas gift exchange this year (a Pallet Board Red Ribbon Star), I felt sure everyone was dying to know what I made. Well probably not, but I’m going to flatter myself and share what I made with you anyway. A burlap wreath! (That probably doesn’t surprise…
Read More“Well hello there!”…What’s Your Home Saying?
The entrance and approach to your home is your house’s way of greeting your guests. Some houses do a great job at that, essentially saying “Hello…welcome, I’m so glad you’re here…we’ve been looking forward to seeing you.” Others on the other hand say “Stay away…don’t bother me…I’m not in the mood to have guests right…
Read MoreWhat’s Your Family Story?
There are few things that move me more than music. Sometimes a song will just send me somewhere. And you can call me a sap, but “The House that Built Me” is one of those songs. Although Miranda Lambert didn’t write it, her performance and the words that writers Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin penned,…
Read MoreDIY Pallet Board Red Ribbon Star
In keeping with our theme of simplifying life, my dear wife suggested that we all bring homemade gifts for our Christmas gift exchange with her extended family this past year. Although I think it took a little bit of convincing for some (they weren’t certain if making something was really simpler than just buying something), eventually everyone…
Read MoreZip Line Adventures in Our Own Backyard!
Woopwoop! Our first “Share Your Story” submission! Hopefully this trend will continue…where others will start sharing their stories here too – inspiring others to live fuller lives at home outside. As you can see by the submission below, here’s a family that’s doing just that! [Alright, in full disclosure…this story was not submitted by…
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