Our Backyard Book

Spring Peepers & 3 simple steps to getting kids excited about nature study

What is a spring peeper? Henry David Thoreau might have been thinking about the chorus of spring peepers he was greeted with at his New England home, after the snow had thawed in mid-April, when he wrote, “When we hear it again, it is remembered like a dream…The voice of nature is always encouraging.” DISCLOSURE:

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12 Things to do With Fall Leaves

I’m always somber this time of year; sad to see summer fading. To get out of my funk, I focus on the vibrant beauty that next month will bring and think of things to do with autumn leaves. DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links. ♥ While I realize that Sweet Summer can only offer a few more stray weekends

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Loving science, even if you’re a Language-Arts-kinda mom

In The Book Thief, Markus Zusak describes words as “clouds, waiting to be held and wrung out like rain.” Zusak is right. When dropped gently–like summer-day raindrops–or strung together painstakingly, on tip-toe, the perfect combination of words rumble through one moment of our life and never leave. But did you notice what Zusak did with his allegory? Much to my

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What you want to know about trillium (before you forage it!)

Our move to NH has officially come full circle. And I’ve officially discovered a new jewel. As a flower I’d never know before awakens in our woods, another circle closes. You see, one year ago today marks the end of an almost 6-year process that led our family from suburbia to our humble New England homestead. Taking

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