Summer – A.M. Pine – Hearth Ridge Reflections

Magnanimous Monday || Check -In, Part 2 ~ 🌞 End of Summer

August 25, 2025 amyofhearthridge2 Comments

My four boys randomly in age order, right to left 😍

Dear Friends ~

I’m sure you feel like me, scrambling to soak the last few rays of sunshine and squeeze out all the remaining summer juiciness. Autumn activities are fast approaching {just 18 days till our homeschool co op begins…eeek!} so I thought I’d attempt to finish my thoughts I started weeks ago 😆 and in Part 1 of this post. I love the chatty bits of social media, the longer form things, that slow me to a snail’s pace so I can reflect and practice gratitude. This has got me seriously considering my online haunts and which are serving and encouraging me or stressing me?! Still considering that.

We squeezed in a last few summer-y things and hosted my 3rd homeschool graduates party in the last few weeks. Whew. I’m thankful for a few weeks of quiet {ish} home time to spruce things up and finalize my homeschool plans. Just off the top of my head, here are a few things I’m focusing on, looking forward to, and challenging myself in for these next few weeks…

‘25-‘26 Willow Tree Academy Vision Board

Home Education Inspiration ~ Jen over at heavenstobetty had a wonderful, inspiring post about her DIY Mother Summer Conference. I was particularly inspired by her vision board. I collaged one for myself while listening to my audiobook of Physik by Angie Sage. I’m focusing on seasonal rhythms, simplicity, home, books, and 1 Thess. 4:11. I’m praying and meditating on the direction, images, hopes for this coming school year. Asking the Lord for a humble heart stayed on Him. ♥️

One of the many reading stacks…and a beautiful, encouraging card from a church friend…

Habit Cultivation ~ I’m working on really cementing some habits that I worked on this summer, little things that add up with my home, health, and my heart…

Walking after my prayer time, cleaning up after each meal as much as I can, and taking extended breaks from media…

Sophie isn’t super excited by her origami hat . 😅

Faithfulness to the Small ~ The Lord is faithful to take our pitiful offerings and steps of obedience, blessing us with growth, direction, and His loving Presence. 🌿 There’s a lot swirling in my heart and mind, but I’m still prayerfully trying to trust that the Lord is untangling all my knots. I’m hoping to finish cleaning a few things, finish my lessons for our co op, and drink in all the beauty right around me each day. I hoping to resurrect my fledgling poetry writing. So thankful for all the summer bounty, the hard, the beautiful, tangible and intangible, alike.

Prettiest books I was gifted this year! 🌸

What a bountiful, beautiful summer ~ Till next time, bless you, friends!

Amy🌲♥️

Marvelous Monday🌻 || Reading and Beauty Chasing ~Life Check-In, Part 1

July 28, 2025 amyofhearthridge9 Comments

Happy Monday, friends. Thought I would do a late-ish mid-year check in of sorts. It’s always helpful for me to reflect on a few areas in my life periodically. This is a part 1, probably…stay tuned for more. 🍄

Reading…💜

Best book(s), so far:

-Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter (our perspective in life/living a life of gratitude)

– So Big by Edna Ferber (day of small things/ our perspective in life)

– Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell (gorgeous & lush/disturbing & sobering)

– A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz (sweet & atmospheric/ Persuasion-like)

– Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (convicting character under microscope- reread)

Fanny spoke her feelings. ‘Here’s harmony! said she, ‘Here’s repose! Here’s what may leave all painting and all music behind, and what poetry only can attempt to describe. Here’s what may tranquilllise every care, and lift every heart to rapture! When I look out on such a night as this, I feel as if there could be neither wickedness nor sorrow in the world; and there certainly would be less of both if the sublimity of Nature were more attended to, and people were carried more out of themselves by contemplating such a scene.’

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Best Sequel(s), so far:

– Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder (family survival at its finest- Pa Ingalls shines)

–Henrietta’s House by Elizabeth Goudge (not quite finished, but completely charming story featuring characters from A City of Bells)

– Books 4-9 in White House Chef Mysteries (very unique setting and amateur sleuth)

– reread of The Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling (audiobook was fantastic- I love young Harry, Ron, and Hermione)

Anticipated New Release I’m Excited About:

Laura Frantz – A Fierce Devotion (Historical Fiction)

Joanna Ruth Meyer – While Darkness Remains (Fantasy)

Emily Hayse – The Dogs of War (Science Fiction)

New-to-Me Authors I want to Read More From:

Edna Ferber (Modern American classics), Brittany Fichter (Fantasy, Fairy-Tale retellings) and Chris Wooding (Fantasy)

A few reading goals beginning in August will be reading from my shelves/piles/Kindle hoard here. Less public library! I want to focus on finishing my mother schooling choices that I’ve been reading this summer.

How about you? How has your reading been so far…I’ll chat more soon on reading. My favorite hobby!

Beauty Chasing…

-walks down our nearby gravel lane

– collaging & writing for small, independent letter/zine

– keeping up regularly on my journals

– planning a state park visit/picnic, late family cherry 🍒 picking trip, bonfires, and thinking on thoughtful Christmas gift plans

-container gardening

What have you loved reading and chasing so far this year? 🩷🌸🪴

What’s bringing me joy lately… {Day 24}

September 17, 2024 amyofhearthridge2 Comments

Gorgeous new stamps!!! I have a few penpals to catch up on! 😍✨♥️💌📬🖋️💕

Always the stacks patiently waiting 😍♥️📚

Just the lovely, jolly, friendly pumpkins 🎃, so many seasonal ‘friends’ appearing

Unexpected delightful moments alone – HP #1 book and movie are my favorite of the whole lot. 🪄🧙‍♂️

Homeschooling 🥰💕♥️ aka lakeschooling – I’m so grateful for spending time with my kids

Oak leaves, the smell, shape, colors, crunchiness…♥️

I could go on! God’s gifts are never-ending. How about you? Anything bringing you joy recently?

🍂♥️📬🎃📚🌿💌🌅💕🍁🕸️🕷️

Monday Ponderings {Day 23}

September 16, 2024 amyofhearthridge2 Comments

Save me, God,

for the water has risen to my neck.

I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing;

I have come into deep water,

and a flood sweeps over me.

But as for me, LORD,

my prayer to you is for a time of favor.

In your abundant, faithful love, God,

answer me with your sure salvation.

~Psalm 69:1-2, 13 CSB

“Ease your whiskers, rest your paws,

Pies and puddings fill the stores.

Sweetly dream the night away,

Till sunshine brings another day.”

~ Jill Barklem

♥️📚🌿☕️✨🍂🍁🍄🌝🦉🕷️🕸️🎃

Saturday Examen + Homeschool Snapshots week 2 {Day 22}

September 14, 2024 amyofhearthridge6 Comments

Prayer for the coming week…

“The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me, his word was on my tongue.”

King David, from 2 Samuel 23:2

Hello, Friends! ♥️☕️🌻I realize I’ve been a bit scarce as we dive into our new home educating year, I hope to get back to my 180 Day Project soon. Here’s a few shots from our week…

How was your week? Ours was good, albeit looong! 😁♥️☕️🌻🌿

Tuesday Tidbit {Day 21}

September 10, 2024 amyofhearthridgeLeave a comment

Beware of any hesitation to abandon to God. It is the meanest characteristics of our personality that are at work whenever we hesitate, there is some element of self-interest that won’t submit to God.

🌿🍂Oswald Chambers🍂🌿

Saturday Examen + Homeschool Snapshots ~ first week {Day 20}

September 7, 2024 amyofhearthridge4 Comments

“No one ever cared for me like Jesus
His faithful hand has held me all this way
And when I’m old and grey
And all my days
Are numbered on the earth
Let it be known in You alone
My joy was found”

~Stephanie Gretzinger

Song that has been carrying me through this week. 🥹♥️✨

We had a great start to our homeschool year this week. I changed our multiple journals that we’ve used in the past to one (plus a group one) for each of us and that is going very well! We so far are enjoying our books…the clear favorites of the week are our continuing a summer read of Jane of Lantern Hill by LM Montgomery, By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Around the World in 80 Days audiobook by Jules Verne. I attached some things to meal/tea time and it’s working well. I so enjoy reading public library picks with my youngers in spare moments. I’ve worked out a rhythm for working through individual work my youngest to oldest and it’s working wonderfully. We still have some wrinkles to iron out as my 12th grader 😭♥️ is working two days a week this year and we haven’t hit the co ops we are in yet. They start next week! Overall, I’m pleased with the forward motion. How was your week? Bless you as you put your hand to YOUR plow! ♥️✨🌻📚🥰☕️💌🖤

•supply• {Day 19}

September 5, 2024 amyofhearthridgeLeave a comment

Let the child himself do that which the teacher usually does for him. Let the child by narration supply both question and answer.

from Karen Glass, Know & Tell, quoting the P.N.E.U

Monday Ponderings {Day 17}

September 2, 2024 amyofhearthridge2 Comments

Monarchs are “tough and powerful, as butterflies go.” They fly over Lake Superior without resting; in fact, observers there discovered a curious thing, instead of flying directly south, monarchs crossing high over the water take an inexplicable turn towards the east. Then when they reach an invisible point, they all veer south again. Each successive swarm repeats this mysterious dogleg movement, year after year. Entomologists actually think that the butterflies might be “remembering” a long-gone, looming glacier.

Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, p.258

{God’s creation astounds me! It inspires and encourages me. Happy Back to School week and Happy September! }📝🖤📚📓🌿🌻🐈

•faithful• {Day 16}

September 1, 2024 amyofhearthridgeLeave a comment

But I will sing of your strength

and will joyfully proclaim

your faithful love in the morning.

For you have been a stronghold for me,

a refuge in my day of trouble.

To you, my strength, I sing praises,

because God is my stronghold ~

my faithful God.

Psalm 59:16-17 CSB

Saturday Examen {Day 15}

August 31, 2024 amyofhearthridgeLeave a comment

“Contemplation is life itself, fully awake, fully active, fully aware that it is alive. It is a spiritual wonder. It is spontaneous awe at the sacredness of life, of being. It is gratitude for life.”

Thomas Merton 🌿

Music for for your weekend . 🌿