Today at the start of school I read to the kids a book I have read to them a hundred times. My friend Shannon sent me Home in the Woods right when it came out. As an aside, I have a couple of friends who send me books when they find a good one. Could there be a more thoughtful day brightener than an unexpected book in the mailbox? Especially from a friend who thought of you as she read it. I think of her and her generosity every time I read it!
So I read this book to them today, a true story of the author’s grandma during the Great Depression and how her family lived in a tiny cabin in the woods of Wisconsin, growing their own food, chopping their own firewood, grateful for berry season and rich black soil. The book is glorious- both in words and in illustrations and we’re always left warmed by the whole thing.
The weather finally warmed up yesterday after a ten day stretch of below zero days, so when we finished the story I told the kids, “go make yourselves at home in the woods!” They suited up and I sent them with a container of oyster crackers to soak up this warm weather.
Alden built the shelter a few days ago (in that sub zero weather…) and was so happy to show me he had built “a shelf for the kettle!” Meanwhile, Elias had found the rusty top of an old garden tool, “to dig the well!”
The girls shared the oyster crackers, and Abel sat under the teepee, likely wondering why he was the one who was positioned under the precarious balance of sticks.
Then he came in for his nap, and Hattie came in to make quesadillas for their lunch in the woods. Hooray for outdoor play!
1 comment
We absolutely love this book as well. I am so glad you own it. I love the page of the canning jars in the cellar.