With my teenager’s increasing independence in their homeschooling, our days have settled into a new rhythm, and I have found peace in making some new, small, personal goals for myself. Charlotte Mason calls it “Mother Culture“. One of my goals is to regularly sketch in my nature journal. I look forward to quietly making an entry once a week during a lovely time of quiet observation, some scientific research, and creative sketching, painting or journaling.
Here is where I find inspiration for my nature journaling ~
Barb at Handbook of Nature Study ran a monthly Outdoor Hour Challenge which we enjoyed in our early homeschool years. Her nature journal prompts are open-ended statements ~
- The most inspiring thing we experienced was…
- Our outdoor time made us ask (or wonder about)…
- In the garden, we are planning/planting/harvesting….
- I added nature journal pages about….
- I am reading…
- I am dreaming about…
- A photo I would like to share…
Simple, gentle prompts which lead to her monthly Outdoor Mom Journal posts.
As my grown children and older teens no longer go on nature walks, I am privileged to go for walks with my little granddaughter who comes to visit us often. She notices all the tiny details and loves to pick up leaves, feathers, stones and any other interesting nature finds. I keep her nature finds on a little tray. Often I use her finds as a journal inspiration.
This nature tray was inspired by Celeste, a mommy to 6 little kiddies under 8, of Joyous Lessons, who writes about their nature tray. She set up a little tray for her family’s nature finds and encouraged her children to look at, play around with, and record these ‘finds’ in their journals. At the end of the week she stores or clears the tray ready for the new week.
She says,
“In a way, this holds me accountable too: I don’t like to clear out the tray until I have had time to document and sketch a bit, but the tray must be emptied to make room for our new finds. So through the routine, I’m nudged into at least a weekly journal entry.This seems like such a minor tip–perhaps this is something you already do! But if you’re anything like me, it’s little things, those easy habits that allow the “extras” to become smoothly woven into the rhythm of our days, that make all the difference. It’s this little habit that prods me to get out the colored pencils and notebooks!”
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Just love it!! I had to share on my Facebook page and tag you, Nadene!
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This is beautiful Nadene! Do you know of any books that are useful for identifying South African plants and trees?
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@Sandy, We have a couple of small reference boooks, but often use the Internet for most of our research.
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