Mar
7
2012

Sunshine, Dirt, & Community

Filed under: Daily Life

We are slowly getting settled into our new little house in Longmont…and we are LOVING having so many options for community and fun. I captured the girls snuggled up together on our chair…watching YouTube videos on how to give a guinea pig a bath We are considering getting 2 guinea pigs and they are in full research mode. When I’ve polled my friends, I’ve heard everything from “Yes! They are great first pets!” to “Oooooh…don’t do it!”. Does anyone have any words of wisdom for us?

We’ve spent several blissful afternoons with our unschooling community…it’s SO nice to be connecting again on a regular basis. It’s done SO MUCH for my mama heart.

Spending time with other moms and dads who view life/parenting the same as you do is very empowering and refreshing.

Seeing this photo just makes me smile and takes me right back to the a-ha moment Lucy had this week. She realized that it was ok to get dirty and be dirty and not have to wash it all off immediately. She’s normally does not like things on her hands. She doesn’t like even a drop of water on her clothes. But when I explained that she could stay outside with her dirty hands and PLAY and HAVE FUN, it produced a new spark and excitement in her eyes. Revolutionary! She got very excited and ran out to make more mud and more mess…and didn’t come in for another 30 minutes. Just the fact that she can play outside makes me incredibly happy. We were unable to do something that simple in Nederland because of the land/terrain we were on and the ice/snow.

Sisters feeding the mailbox a delicious little letter.

On Tuesday, it was a balmy 70 degrees! We spent much of the morning and early afternoon playing at the park and soaking up every last bit of sunshine.

Lucy raced after Bella on her Plasma car…wanting to be just like her big sis.

Today we spent all afternoon at a a nearby bounce playhouse/gym…because the temp had dropped back to 37 and chilly! The girls played so hard for 4 straight hours and are sleeping VERY soundly as I type this in the quiet of the night

And lastly…a few things that are making me happy this week. A new painting from my friend Lisa…this photo just doesn’t even do it justice. The colors in this original are so gorgeous. I can’t wait to hang it in the perfect spot!

I’ve been loving the kombucha…which is funny because I haven’t always been a fan. Trilogy and Gingerberry are my favorite right now…but their chia-filled fruity friends are a close second! Bella loves them too…which makes me happy. Although as with anything (even “good” things)…I try to keep our intake moderate and not go crazy with it. I will eventually need to start making my own because we go through it pretty quickly! If you’ve never tried it…give it a whirl! But don’t give up if you don’t like it on the first try. Experiment with different brands and flavors until you find one you like.

And lastly…this little gem of encouragement that my friend Alicia of the fabulous Milagro Girl sent out on her Insta.gram feed this week. It really resonated with me and I’ve gone back to read it many times for inspiration. I hope you feel the same way.

So many great reminders…but to sum it up, LIVE AN AMAZING & FULL LIFE!!

What is inspiring you to do that this week?

Posted by Sara @ 9:20 pm | Leave a Comment

http://www.wethreekiehns.blogspot.com jessica kiehn

I’m pregnant too and stopped drinking Kombucha (I LOVE IT!)because I thought you couldn’t drink it while pregnant or nursing? I did some research and it pretty much summed up to not ideal. What do you think?
- http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/ Sara
  
  Jessica…I might not have drank it quite as heartily in the first 2 trimesters. But I did ask a midwife friend who gave me the green light. I do stick to the kind that has the very low alcohol content and not the higher kind. I think you really have to listen to your body and also what your instincts tell you. To me, it’s kind of the same as someone who is 100% against caffeine during pregnancy vs. someone who has a couple cups of green tea daily. It’s a personal choice, but one that I don’t think matters in the grand scheme of baby growin’
http://www.daydreamerdanna.blogspot.com Danna

AWESOME gem of encouragement! I needed that!
And as for kombucha, I understood it that you should not start drinking it and drinking tons while nursing or pregnant. Because of the detoxifing effect. I drink it in moderation and have through out this nurseling.
Thanks!
J

I highly recommend rats over guinea pigs! I’ve never owned a guinea pig myself, but friends have and they were often in my classrooms. I found them to be not very cuddly, scratchy, jumpy, and more aggressive. Rats have huge personalities and are surprisingly friendly and cuddly! I had several growing up and loved them
http://www.greensagetribe.com Jess

I love Kombucha and my kids do too! Cannot wait to get some when we return to the States! We’re back to West Michigan!
anna hopper

wow..im loving that encouraging piece at the end. i think I’m gonna print it out and put it somewhere so i can see it everyday. thank you for sharing that!
cruella

Great to see that you are all settling in. Curious question: How come the kids couldn’t play outside in the mountains? I come from a land of ice and sneow and we played endlessly in the snow: building igloos,”baking”, sleighing or just messing around.
Jenny Miller

So happy for you to have your little tribe! We have great group here, too, but I would love more unschool friends. We have two male guinea pigs and we love them. They can be a bit jumpy when startled, but they are so sweet. They have great personalities, but that depends on the guinea pig (just like people). Ours make the the cutest squeals when they see us go into the kitchen, because they know they’re probably going to get a carrot or yummy treat! We love Kombucha too and we are lucky to have a local company that makes great flavors. And YAY! for dirt!
http://bekisbloggybits.blogspot.com/ beki

Guinea pigs are great first pets, my daughter had them and I’ve been considering getting some for my little man.
I will have to look into kambucha, it’s not something I’ve heard of and not sure we can get it here in England.
It’s lovely to see you settled in your new home x
Sasha

I too feel the need to have my own print of the words of encouragment near the bottom. I think I just may do that and hang it right above my computer. ; )
http://multicolouredmadness.blogspot.co San

As always a happy place to visit.

As for the guinea pigs, if you decide to get them they need to be in pairs, they are not solitary creatures. You could pair a guinea with a rabbit and that works well.

Blessings on the rest of your week.

San xx
http://beesnestbrittany.blogspot.com Brittany

that painting looks lovely and your family really looks happy. i’m glad.
i had a guinea pig when i was much younger and she was adorable…if not a little messy.
last week i spent waaaay too much time on the computer. just surfing around on pinterest, looking at all the amazing and crafty ideas..but of course not actually DOING any of them. a bit burnt out i was. so i’m limiting my online time to one hour per day–usually 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 in the evening. the rest of the time is spent with my hub and son, cooking veggie food and baking and painting. reconnecting with real life.
Amanda Roggow

I love so many things about this post: community, sibling love, outside time, kumbucha, and something I can print out as a reminder of what feeds my soul. Thanks!!!!
http://www.ohdustin.wordpress.com dustin

Ooo, I’m so excited for you guys! I don’t know much about guinea pigs. I’m a rabbit girl myself. Growing up I had Holland Lops because they are so gentle and great with kids. Now I’m in the process of getting a Flemish Giant. It’s a twenty pound rabbit, said to be the gentle giant of the rabbit world I love rabbits because they are easy to litterbox train like a cat and they can live around the house like a cat so long as there are no cords for them to chew.

My 5 year old jumped out of bed this morning and ran to the window to see if it was spring yet. Still snow on the ground, but the birds are chirping and it’s getting warmer. It’s just around the corner…

xx
dustin
Lara

We had hampsters growing up, that my mom also took to her kindergarten class. They run in their wheel at night so you want a quiet wheel, but ours were always very sweet (we were never bit). Plus, they get to run around the house in a plastic ball or thru those crazy tube cages (we just had a fish tank with lid tho). They work hard on their nests and its pretty cute. We had short haired, not teddy bear. I’ve know people to be bit by the long haired, teddy bear ones.

My friend had a guinea pig who she raised from a baby and one day while I was there she reached in the cage and it bit her…hard. I’d expect that maybe from a “new” one, but evidently guinea pigs just aren’t known to be that sweet and most don’t let you hold them. Theres always the exception tho and lots.of.handling from the beginning could possibly insure a cuddly, peaceful guinea pig.
http://heartshapedleaves.blogspot.com/ Samantha

I would really like to try kombucha, I am going to have to look harder for it the next time I am out and about.

My 4 year old wants hermit crabs! I haven’t heard anyone say anything but good things about them though.

and that last picture, oh boy do I need that reminder big time! It is something I have been trying to focus on, but it can be so hard for some reason. Thank you, your blog is always so full of inspiration.
Miriam

I’ve had guinea pigs AND rats! Both are great pets.

Guinea pigs have large cage requirements. Please check out http://www.guineapigcages.com.

Rats are actually not very allergy friendly. I read somewhere that folks who allergic to cats also tend to be allergic to rats. Unfortunately, that turned out to be the case for me too. But I loved our rats!

Both animals are full of personality (depending on the animal itself…every animal is individual) and have pluses and minus. One thing to think about – esp with a new baby…is the cage cleaning requirement. Cages need to be scrubbed weekly. You’ll need to help most likely. Is that something you want to take one with an infant in tow? We actually got our rats when I was pregnant the last time. I regretted that decision and even though I really liked the rats – I was happy when they passed away. (I’m only mentioning the rats b/c someone else suggested them.)

Both animals also do better in pairs. With piggies, it is better to have a neutered male/female pairing. There are often rescues (both rats and piggies) around too. I really do NOT recommend pet stores. Our rats only lived 6 mo and 1.5 yrs respectively – and I really think it was probably the quality of breeding involved with rats. We did not have any local rescues or breeders though. (In the rat world, a breeder is actually better than a pet store!)
- Molly
  
  I agree! DO NOT BUY FROM PET STORES! The animals there are bred for quantity; never quality. Reputable breeders are always going to be better than pet stores, whatever species you are dealing with! And of course rescues are great too
Kristen

Hey there! I had to make a comment about guinea pigs. We actually have 3! We LOVE them! They make great first pets. They are very sturdy animals so you don’t have to worry as much with little hands being not as gentle as they should be. And they are very social so they love to be around people. They also love to come out of their cages and run around the house for a bit. The only negative thing I have to say about them is they can be a little stinky. But as long as you clean their cages regularly your all good!!
http://www.thefreedomthree.blogspot.com megan

the new place looks great! Sounds like you’re loving it and not to be Debbie downer or anything but I was letting my 4 year old watch gymnastics videos on YouTube a week or so ago and when I came back just a few minutes later to check on her she had got to some videos on torturing people. I was pissed! At myself I guess. I went through her history and gymnastics had led to some type of contortion video which led to some sort of pain thread with pulling teeth and then to torture. It kills me to think about what she saw. We don’t do YouTube anymore…I literally left her for about 3 or 4 minutes.
- http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/ Sara
  
  Yes, YouTube is crazy like that. I do stay close and make sure that they are only watching what I’ve approved.
Kayla

I happen to agree with Dustin on being a Rabbit girl. Even though I have never owned a rabbit or guinea pig myself. I own two sugar gliders instead!

I do however currently work at a pet store part time and from my experience there I would have to say consider a rabbit. They don’t have to be with another rabbit (although with any animal it seems nicer to get them a little friend. Except for hamsters…they will kill each other.)
Rabbits can hop around the house while the girls can play with it and is less likely to run off quickly with them chasing after it. Guinea pigs are more high strung than most rabbits and get frightened more easily. As far as bitting and friendliness, they are pretty equal. It all just depends on the one you choose. Always make sure you hold the animal before you buy/adopt. The younger you get them the better. So in most cases finding a local breeder is the best way to go.

It is also super easy to potty train a rabbit and people do it all the time. This can make it potentially easier on you or the hubby. I have not heard of to many people potty training guinea pigs with success.
Rabbits also clean themselves so there is no need to bath them like you would a guinea pig. Both will need to have their nails trimmed regularly.
There are also great varieties of dwarf rabbits that stay 3-5lbs. Little rabbits are so cute!!

Either one can be great first pets for your girls. If the girls are going to be caring for them the most, encourage lots of research on a few animals and let them choose.

Good Luck!!
Jessica

Can’t wait to see your new house all decorated!

I still have some yarn for the girls but not as much as I had before… There was a family emergency of sorts and I had 3 days to pack up everything and move 2 states away, but I haven’t forgotten ya! I’m going to let the stash build up again first.
- http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/ Sara
  
  No worries! Hope all is ok. Thanks for thinking of us!
http://www.herbanhomestead.blogspot.com mandi@herbanhomestead

Yum! Trilogy is my favorite too! Alas, I do not like the chia seed version. Too slimy for me!
About the guinea pigs- we bought one for our 8 year old a few months ago and he has been a wonderful addition to the family! She loves that she can tote him around all over. He is very laid back and she has constructed a sling of sorts to carry him in! He is always next to her. One word of caution, she contracted ring worm from him. So just be aware of that. No guinea pig in the bed for us anymore!
Emma

I don’t know about guinea pigs, but our first pets were chinchillas. They are clean, don’t smell, do bat turns off walls, and are very easy for a child to take responsibility for. They also each have very individual personalities. Whatever you decide, best of luck and glad you found the sun again!
http://beinghappygirl.blogspot.com/ happygirl

All the best to you in your new home. I’m going to give the kombucha a try. You’ve introduced me to so many yummy healthy foodstuffs. And girls getting dirty… The BEST.
Kate

What iphone do you have? Trying to decide today if the 4s is worth it
- http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/ Sara
  
  I have the iPhone 4, not the 4s. Although, I’m looking forward to upgrading when I can.
Rachel

Do you have any tips on finding good mama community? I’d like to explore other things than church-related things (even though I am a believer). Just feel stuck, not knowing which direction to go. I just emailed you too
- http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/ Sara
  
  Hi Rachel…it’s definitely a process. Looking back, it took a good 3+ years to establish deep, life-long connections with my mama friends when I was just starting out in a new community. It does seem that the more children you have, the more chances there are for connections in different areas. As Bella has gotten older, there are more places to meet like-minded parents because she is in more activities. I would recommend focusing on your passions and seek out people with the same interests. That way, you have more than just your kids in common. Whether that be a hobby or ideals or what not. I guess there really isn’t a magic answer, except to just keep seeking it out!! Keep looking for community. And be patient. You will eventually find that small group that you really click with. Don’t be afraid to have friends that aren’t “best friends”…just have fun and get out there.
- http://thekindnessmanifestos.com/ Keri
  
  Are you in the Boulder? There’s a group–Boulder Rockin Moms… I think you can reach via google groups?
http://cuppapixie.blogspot.com leslie

I *love* that list- exactly what I needed to see today!
http://chasingconviction.com Taylor L. Hughes-Kelch

This post made me so happy and i really needed to read that instagram… I have been spending my mornings on FB and notice how much it changes my mood. I also moved into a awesome new appartment closer to a big city since my husband got a job last weekend and sold my RV yesterday! Its been a crazy few days here! We left our homeschooling group a while back bc their beleifs and parenting ideas were soooooo far from ours. Im very intrested in finding an unschooling group to be part of. Any suggestions on where to start?
- http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/ Sara
  
  Hi Taylor! Lots of changes happening for you! Exciting. I would recommend joining the Facebook group called “Unschooling”. It’s pretty active and you could ask the question there. I will say though that some areas of the country are much more saturated with unschoolers than others. Depending on where you are, there quite possibly might not be any. Especially if you are living in a very conservative homeschooling area that is heavily focused on curriculum, etc. Although, it just takes one person to start a movement
http://winenaptime.wordpress.com Jenna Boettger Boring

We had guinea pigs for a long time. We thought they were fabulous pets. As with any small mammal in a cage there is a small involved, we kept it clean so it was more of woodsy smell for us but if you don’t keep ON TOP of it that goes downhill pretty quick.

We liked them because you can cuddle with and pet them but they’re way less work than something like a dog.
http://www.indiebarefootbooks.com Christina D.

Yes, i totally echo what Rachel + Taylor asked. I love coming here and reading about the wonderful families you connect with. My friend and i are trying to start a homeschool co-op because we are craving a community to empower each other and man, just have some fun! But everyone just seems so flakey and bails out at the last minute, we are getting pretty discouraged.

We are going to trudge on through and keep on with our get togethers, though any sort of insight you could give would be so totally awesome!
- http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/ Sara
  
  Christina…good for you for starting a co-op! My best advice is just to be patient. It takes YEARS to establish a core group of families that will be committed and will show up time after time. So yes, keep going! And keep branching out and inviting new families. It will eventually stick…as long as you have a good sized town and there are enough people looking for this type of connection.
flo

Looks like the girls are adjusting really great:) Love that reminder in the end!
Just started making my own kombucha last month and wow, it is wonderful all around! The girls would enjoy doing it with you, I think. I love that the kids can pick the juice or fruits they like to add to it for flavor! and I’m pretty sure you could easily get a scoby/mother from someone in your community.)
http://girldust.wordpress.com naomi

If you want a rodent pet, I would honestly recommend rats over guinea pigs. They’re far more intelligent and less apt to bite. They’ve also got incredible personalities.
http://www.atpeacewithcrazy.com atpeacewithcrazy

hey! we’re passing through Denver this week & thoroughly enjoyed that 70 degree day too!
Rachel @ Lautaret Bohemiet

I personally can’t stand guinea pigs… but based on the look on Lucy’s face while she was watching that video, I’d say DO IT!

xoxo
Lissa

We used to “babysit” the guinea pigs from the school at vacation time….UGH. so smelly Then we owned 3 hamsters and loved that experience. Oh…except for the few times they escaped!
http://happymamasjournal.blogspot.com lisa gonzalez

I’m so glad you are enjoying the comfort and company of mama friends again There is nothing quite like community. We have moved 3 times in the past 5 years and each time my heart ached a little more when I needed start over again and find people to connect with. We have been here in NJ for 5 months now and I have several friends who lift me up and make me feel at home. I am so very thankful!

I’m glad you are settling in. I too look forward to seeing pics of the house. I’m so stoked to know my painting is going to hang in your home Wheee!!!

sending you a big hug from Jersey,
Lisa G.
http://brooke-c-smith.blogspot.com Brooke Smith

Guinea pigs are awesome! My twin and I got two of them when we were 7 and loved them so much!!
mona

You’ve had that lovely blue couch/chair cover thing for quite some time, I think.
I think I remember seeing it in one of your first RV’s.
Molly

I know someone else mentioned it already, but I would also HIGHLY reccomend going to this site http://www.guineapigcages.com/ for all things guinea pig!

Guinea pigs are a lot of fun and can be great pets for kids; as long as the kids are gentle and well behaved around animals (the same could be said for any pet!).

Some of the most important things to keep in mind are the large cage requirments (at LEAST 7.5 sq feet for two pigs), and their dietary needs. GPs need fresh vegetables every day. You can find a good chart of acceptable fruits and veggies on the gpcages forum. Also gps require good quality hay at all times; they need this to aid in digestion and to keep their teeth from growing too long.

I see that a lot of people are recommending rats as being better first pets than gps and I’m going to have to disagree with that. I love rats, but in my experience they have more complicated dietary needs and are also MUCH messier (we’re talking pee all over the bars of the cage within a couple of hours of cleaning it, lol).

Anywho, thank you for researching BEFORE getting a pet! It is truly sad how often animals are purchased on impulse and then neglected for the majority of their days
http://travelingbygrace.blogspot.com Corey Burge

Love it! I can’t wait to get back to a normal house and with community and friends. It IS good for the mama soul!
Michelle

First- I needed that list/mantra for today. Thank you so much for posting.

Second- I am a big Kombucha fan. Trilogy is my favorite too. I’ve been brewing my own for almost a year and it makes it a much more affordable daily beverage. Food Renegade has some great tutorials.
Serafina

I love that you already have curtains up. That totally inspired me! I’m going to do a little online shopping…right now! *smile*
S

Guinea pigs are not aggressive. The only reason ever they would bite anyone, is being scared or feeling threatened! And should that happen, they don’t bite hard.

The are indeed very cuddly if you treat them right. Ours can lay in my lap “forever”, licking my hand or fall asleep while being petted. They like watching TV
http://www.frecklesfilledwithove.blogspot.com Jean

Oh, I see a mutual friend in those pictures!!! So glad you have Jill and her family to hang out with. I miss having them close to us here on the east coast! Looks like you are all having such fun
http://thekindnessmanifestos.com/ Keri

Love Trilogy Kombuchas And LOVE the painting. Can adults play too? I want to be a kid again.
http://frommilitarytomom.com Alyssa@ From Military to Mom

If you haven’t done so already, contact Cavy Care, the largest Guinea Pig Rescue in the states I think. My boys and I volunteered there once to clean out cages and the owners are so friendly. They can give you advice and know each little pet in their rescue well enough to match you with a great pet.
http://www.cavycareinc.org/
http://frommilitarytomom.com Alyssa@ From Military to Mom

Oh, should mention that they are in Aurora.
Elizabeth

Lost track of you for awhile…glad the new one is close!! Hope all will go well with delivery!!

We used to raise guinea pigs. It is difficult to find a good one in a pet store…yes, as others have mentioned breeding is important (we learned that they definitely have personality, much more than what you might think. Some are friendlier than others). But I would not recommend one for a child under 5-6 years old. The first one we got (pet store) was wild and jumped out of one child’s hands and hit the floor and died within a day or so. They were not bad to bite. But we had to get rid of all of ours after our youngest caught some bad strep or staph germ…and because of how you have to keep guinea pigs, yes, they run through their poop, to be graphic. The better bred ones would use a corner of the cage to “go” in… but still they are walking through it at times. Something no one told us too, with males, they do their little mating dance and in so doing drag certain parts through the woodchips, so you have to clean those parts on them from time to time. Graphic, sorry. SO! Though they are very cute and cuddly…and must have their large cages cleaned often…still it might not be enough to keep children well. Being they are prone to put their hands in their mouth when younger…just my opinion for what it is worth.
http://www.ukitimberlandbootsonline.eu/ CoitoHeeteTix

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