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“Mother Culture,” an idea from Charlotte Mason and coined by Karen Andreola, simply encourages mothers to keep learning and growing, even while raising children. Andreola describes it this way:
Mother Culture® is a way-of-life, the skillful art of how a mother looks after the ways of her household. With a thinking-love she creates a culture in the home all her own. A mother does a lot of taking care, so she needs to take care of herself, too. Much depends on how she manages her life.
It’s been a long time since I’ve deeply pondered a work of literature. Since I don’t belong to a book club, I usually just read a book at face value and move on. Some effect me more deeply than others, but for the most part, I don’t take the time to hash out overarching themes and word choices and other literary things. Reading Home along with the Close Reads Podcast has been a fun change of pace and I’m really enjoying it. I read ahead and finished the book, but these are the two episodes I’ve listened to so far:
✔ ASSIGNMENT #2: Research edible plants that grow in my area.
Native fruit and nut trees can be grown to produce food for people and/or wildlife while protecting soil, water and air quality. Because they are multifunctional, native fruit and nut trees and shrubs are prime candidates for agroforestry plantings and home landscaping.
I found a really cool resource from Virginia Tech describing some of the edible fruit and nut trees that grow in my area. There’s everything from a black walnut tree to an Allegheny blackberry bramble to a pawpaw tree. I hope to take this knowledge and use it to purchase specific species of plants that will thrive here. Setting myself up for success!
✔ ASSIGNMENT #3: Buy the supplies needed to learn how to crochet.
And the two assignments I didn’t get to:
✘ ASSIGNMENT #4: Discover and listen to another new musician.
For October, I’m planning to circle back and finish the last two assignments. I also think I’ll take this month to finish the top of my hand-sewed scrap quilt before starting in on crochet lessons. One thing at a time, right? So October: a month for finishing what I’ve started. Here we go!
The CloseReads hosts are SO good at helping me ponder and read more good literature. I've found it really helpful in making me feel like I'm learning and investing more in myself and not just reading whatever passes my fancy (which is all fine and good but it's nice to "stretch" every once in awhile!).
Yes! That's been my experience so far too. I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for their book choices in the future.
I love the Close Reads podcast! I listened to their Great Gatsby episodes, and it made me appreciate that book so much more. ❤️
I can't believe it's taken me this long to find them! I've really enjoyed the episodes I've listened to so far.
I loved Home so much. I underlined so many deep thoughts and felt like I had to read slowly to really process all of it.
Yes! It took me almost all month because I could only read a little at a time before I felt like I needed to put it down and process it a bit. A really nice change of pace!