What's in Your Backpack?

...the back-to-school edition

True confessions. As a high-school student in the late 70’s-early 80’s, I couldn’t wait for the September issue of Seventeen Magazine to hit the stands. What would all the cool girls be wearing this year? (Can we please forget “gauchos” ever existed? Thank you.) And then I discovered the holy grail of fashion advice: The Official Preppy Handbook by Lisa Birnbach. Did I know this was supposed to be satire? Of course not! I was determined to bring a little bit of classic style and east coast tradition to the dry desert of Tucson, Arizona. I wore polos with alligators, dresses with whales, needlepoint belts, Pappagallo espadrilles, and I sewed and embroidered my monogram on…oh yes I did!... my very own Bermuda Bag.

Probably the most useful of those purchases was my LL Bean backpack that went with me to the University of Arizona (Bear Down Wildcats!). Even now I know the practicality and usefulness of a good backpack, especially on airplanes. There is definitely something about a bookbag in September that says “Back to School”, so let’s jump in! I have a lot of catching up to do since my birthday 2 weeks ago.

School Supplies: (No affiliate links here; I just like sharing things.) I love to write. I keep one notebook for daily journals and to-dos, one more for the ongoing grocery list/menu planner, and yet another one in my kitchen for tracking sourdough, guest menus, and product reviews. And if you love a good notebook, you have to have a good pen. I love these. All the colors!

Book Report: The Redeemed Reader: Cultivating a Child’s Discernment and Imagination Through Truth and Story. My friends have written a book and it is incredible. I have a longer review posted on Amazon, but this book is helpful for anyone who loves books, who buys books, who reads aloud, and who wants their grandchildren to have and love good books. (And if your shelves are overflowing? There’s a chapter just for you!)

Cafeteria Menu: I don’t have plastic divided trays to serve lunch on. Any more. (Yes, we did this once for fun because I was the fun homeschool mom. Also, one child didn’t like her food to touch.) For a special dessert this weekend I made these. I even made the homemade marshmallow fluff and it wasn’t hard at all. Even so…you can buy the fluff and you can also buy the dulce de leche. Look for the can next to the Eagle Brand Milk. Campfire S’mores Meet Brownies

For the everyday meals, this is a treasure and I happily pay the $6/month subscription:

Restaurant Dropout is written by a young woman who understands cooking/flavor/processes/simplicity/thrift. This is not “meal prep” in the gym-bro sense. You will not be cooking and storing mountains of chicken breasts. Rather it’s using ingredients that you can repeat in new ways throughout the 5 dinner menus, a comprehensive prep plan, and options for subbing ingredients if you need to. Weekly menus are for 2 people but they scale up easily if needed. Last night Steve and I had spiced feta meatball gyros on homemade flatbread with tzatziki and hummus. Delicious!

School Uniform: Yes, there was the time we tried school uniforms (only for the 3 younger ones and 1 admitted later to liking it. So there! Some children appreciate the ease of an early morning without decisions.) I’m teaching one writing class/week this year and I do take what I wear seriously. It sets a mood for the class, it elevates the atmosphere, and if I am asking for conscientious attention to detail on the part of my class, I need to mirror that. The best thing I’ve done is get a consultation from my local House of Colour and now everything in my closet works together.

Field Trips (and science and history): Ok friends, I promised you the update from my birthday trip 2 weeks ago. Ever since we moved here and I read The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore, and ever since I learned of the National Hansen’s Disease Museum just 2 ½ hours down the road, I have wanted to visit. Not many are familiar with “Hansen’s Disease”, but we’ve all heard of leprosy.

Carville, Louisiana (south of Baton Rouge) is home to what was the United States’ only leprosarium until 1999. Many patients were brought here against their will and never saw their families again. Even so, advances in therapies and medications were accomplished, a community emerged, and faithful servants such as The Sisters of Charity and Dr. Paul Brand shared Christ’s love and light. The book mentioned above is an excellent introduction. Here are a few more:

In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White. The author resided in Carville during the time it was a Federal Prison. As a convict he managed to meet and form friendships with several patients.

Miracle at Carville by Betty Martin. This is an alias as many patients chose new names to avoid embarrassing their families. She tells her story and the book is worth tracking down. It was published in 1950.

Carville’s Cure by Pam Fessler. A contemporary exploration of the history of both the disease and the facility.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made; The Gift of Pain – both by Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey. The human body is miraculous!

Whether you are getting your little ones out the door or around your kitchen table, whether you are teaching someone somewhere, or whether you are just a fellow learner – I pray this school year brings you great joy! Next time I’ll tell you about the joy of learning to do something badly.

Welcome Home!

Renée