Cultivate a Lil’ Joy

08/31/2026

One of the things we’ve been using this break for is some good old-fashioned winter preparation and property maintenance. 🌲🪵

There are a lot of very dead trees around our property that need to come down due to the ash beetles. It’s not necessarily the glamorous side of homesteading, but it is important work.
Clearing these trees means fewer hazards for the kids when we’re outside. It helps protect our power lines from falling limbs and keeps the electricity on when winter storms roll through. And it helps protect the things we’ve been working so hard to build—like our high tunnel—from damage.

But there’s another part of this work that I really love.

People need meaningful work, kids especially.

There is something different about being given a real job that matters. Not busywork. Not something designed just to keep them occupied. Work that has a purpose and a visible result.

One of my teens has been doing a lot of the heavy work, and honestly? He is loving it.
The lifting. The pulling. The chopping. Moving logs. Clearing brush. Using his whole body and seeing the pile get larger and the to do list get smaller because of HIS effort.

There’s a reason we talk about “heavy work” so much in childhood development. That kind of purposeful physical work can be incredibly regulating and satisfying. Sometimes kids don't need another activity—they need an opportunity to do something real.

And honestly, this is part of why I love Forest School so much.

Forest School isn't just about identifying trees, going on hikes, or learning about nature. It’s about giving children opportunities to engage with the world around them in meaningful ways.

To carry.To build.To dig.To climb.To problem-solve.To get dirty.To contribute.To feel capable.

There is so much learning that happens when children are trusted with real work and given the space to discover what they can do.

So while we’re spending these last bits of our break preparing for winter, we’re also being reminded that work can be learning, work can be connection, and work can feel really, really good. 🌲💪🏻

And there’s something pretty special about looking at a healthier wood line, a stack of firewood, or a protected high tunnel and being able to say, “We did that.”

08/30/2026

The past few days have been a beautiful reminder of why we love this time of year. 🍂🌿

We’ve been soaking up the gorgeous weather and spending as much time outside as we can while slowly finding our rhythm again.

Homeschool lessons are making their way back into our days. We’re visiting the library, getting back to our routines, following little sparks of curiosity, and enjoying all the in-between moments that make up our days.

And by the end of the month, we’ll be back into our Forest School and co-op rhythms, too. 🌲📚✨

This year is going to be beautifully busy. There are so many wonderful things ahead, and instead of rushing to fit everything into place, we’re choosing to ease into it.

A little learning.
A lot of fresh air.
Time with friends.
Time to explore.
Time to settle in.

There’s something really lovely about beginning a new school year slowly — letting the rhythm find us instead of forcing it.

We’re enjoying every bit of this gentle transition. 💙

Here’s to a school year filled with curiosity, connection, adventure, and lots of time outside. 🌿

08/26/2026

🌿🍂 Forest School is Back September 29! 🍂🌿

We’re getting ready to head back into the woods! Cultivate a Lil’ Joy Forest School resumes September 29. 🎉

We’ll spend our days following the seasons, the interests of the children, and whatever little wonders we discover along the way. There’s always something new to notice, explore, create, and wonder about. 🪵🍄🐿️

I can’t wait to see everyone again and get back to our adventures! 💚

Forest School resumes Tuesday, September 29. 🌲✨

08/26/2026

Today feels like a particularly tender day.

Dolly Parton passed away today, and while so much will be said about the music, the movies, the laughter, and the larger-than-life Dolly we all knew, I keep thinking about something much smaller.

A book arriving in the mail for my children every month for years.

When our family lived in East Tennessee, my own children were beneficiaries of Dolly’s Imagination Library. I remember those books coming into our home—little packages of possibility, imagination, and wonder arriving just for them.

Now, through Cultivate a Lil Joy, I spend my time thinking about children and the little things that can make their worlds brighter. And I realize how deeply Dolly’s example connects to the work I feel called to do.

She understood that small things aren't really small when they reach a child.

A book.
A smile.
A moment of wonder.
Someone believing in you.
A little bit of joy showing up when you least expect it.

Dolly didn't just talk about loving children or wanting them to dream. She built something that put that belief into action—and millions of children experienced the tangible evidence of that love…. and they still sit on our own shelves 📚

And now, in my own small way, I hope to keep cultivating that same kind of joy for other children.

What a beautiful legacy: to make the world a little brighter for people you may never even meet.

Thank you, Dolly, for the books, the songs, the laughter, the generosity, and for reminding us that kindness can be both simple and enormous.

I’m especially grateful tonight that your legacy touched my own family. May we all carry a little of that Dolly magic forward. 💕🌸

Rest well, Dolly. And thank you for cultivating so much joy.

Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright, and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80 years old.

Dolly is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years Carl Thomas Dean (1942 – 2025), her mother Avie Lee Caroline Owens (1923 – 2003), and father, Robert Lee Parton, Sr. (1921 – 2000).

A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.

At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family. Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com

In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com

08/19/2026

🌿 Come Explore With Us at Forest School! 🌿

We’re heading back into our woods this school year, and we’d love for your family to join us!

Every other Tuesday • 11–3 • Pleasant Mount

Forest School is a little different from a traditional class. We don’t arrive with a lesson plan and expect the day to go a certain way. We follow the children. 💚

Their questions, curiosities, interests, and ideas become the starting point for our adventures. We pay attention to the season, weather, plants, animals, water, woods, and all the little discoveries happening around us—and let the day unfold naturally.

Maybe we’ll spend the morning following the creek. Maybe someone discovers a mushroom that sends us down a rabbit hole of questions. Maybe we’ll build a fort, investigate animal tracks, make something, play in the mud, or simply find the perfect place to sit and watch the woods.

There’s no telling exactly where the day will take us—and that’s the fun of it. 🍄🌲

Come spend a little more time outside, make some friends, follow your curiosity, and add a little wildness to your homeschool week.

Every other Tuesday, 11–3, in Pleasant Mount.
We’d love to have you along for the adventure. 🌿

08/18/2026

🌲✨ The rest of our Tuesday Trails adventures are officially posted! ✨🌲

If you’ve been wondering where our trails will take us for the remainder of the year, head over to the Tuesday Trails event page — all of our upcoming adventures are now posted! 🥾🍂

We have some old favorites, some new-to-us places, beautiful overlooks, waterfalls, ponds, and even a BIG adventure to wrap up the season. There are lots of opportunities between now and winter to get outside, explore somewhere new, and cultivate a lil’ joy together. 💚

And our next adventure is Clifford Park! 🌿

Come join us next Tuesday as we wander through the woods, explore the trails, and see what we can discover along the way. As always, we won’t be in a hurry. We’ll make room for curiosity, conversation, woodland treasures, and whatever catches the children’s attention.

Whether you’ve been coming to Tuesday Trails all year or you’ve been meaning to join us but haven’t made it out yet, next week is a great time to jump in!

Come hike. Come explore. Come let the kids get a little wild. Come meet some fellow nature-loving families. Or just come spend a morning outside. 🌲✨

All are welcome.

Check out the event page for the full lineup of our remaining 2026 Tuesday Trails adventures, and we’ll see you at Clifford Park next week! 🥾🍃

08/17/2026

So sorry for the little social media silence. 🌸 I’ve been busy soaking up the flowers, sunshine, and sweet little moments before the rhythm of school begins again. 🌿✨

08/12/2026

Yesterday’s hike at Promised Land felt like stepping into a magical other world. 🌿✨

We followed the stream as it wound its way through the woods, sometimes quietly trickling and sometimes rushing over the rocks. Massive trees towered above us while tiny mosses and mushrooms hid beneath the ferns, waiting to be discovered.

And after all that exploring, we made our way to the beach to play and enjoy a completely different side of the park.

There was something so peaceful and enchanting about the whole day. Water, woods, ferns, moss, mushrooms, and happy kids exploring it all together. 💚

Days like this are exactly why I love Tuesday Trails. 🥾🌲

08/11/2026

🥾🌲 A look at the rest of our Tuesday Trails! 🌲🥾

We’ve already been having so much fun exploring together, and I’m excited about the places we have lined up for the rest of the fall!

🌿 Aug. 25 — Clifford Park
🪨 Sept. 8 — Jensen’s Ledges
🍂 Sept. 22 — Frances Slocum
🏞️ Oct. 6 — Irving Cliff
💦 Oct. 20 — Ricketts Glen
🌲 Nov. 3 — Varden Pond
🥾 Nov. 17 — Bushkill Falls

I love that each adventure gives us something a little different to discover—from rocks and overlooks to waterfalls, ponds, and beautiful fall woods.

Here’s to lots more muddy shoes, curious questions, good conversations, and time spent outside together. 🍂💚