What's in my Morning Book Basket

Making time to read

If you've been around homeschoolers much you’ve probably have heard the term Morning Basket. It's a lovely routine where you gather all of the beautiful books and other materials that you'd like to learn from and spend a little time each day working your way through the books.

Each morning you gather and you might read a chapter of one book and then another, a couple of poems, maybe you listen to a song. Over time you slowly build up a beautiful collection of poems, stories, songs and books read and shared together.

We’ve done this in our homeschool for years and years. A long time ago I also adapted the concept for my own personal morning study time.

I get up early almost every single day and spend a little time reading and studying from the collection of books in my basket before my workout.

I thought it would be fun to show you every so often what I'm currently including in both my personal basket and our homeschool basket. Today we’ll focus on my own personal reading.

I have a silly Readerly Rule that before lunch is for nonfiction reading and after lunch is for fiction. (I’m not sure if it’s really silly, I do feel like it helps me read a lot more than I would otherwise, but it does feel excessive when I write it out). That's true of my morning basket as well as any audiobooks I listen to while getting ready for the day or going for a walk, doing house and yard work, etc.

Most of my nonfiction reading is contained in my Morning Book Basket.

I’m slowly working my way through these books right now:

Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age by Katherine May

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brene Brown

The PLAN: Manage Your Time like a Lazy Genius by Kendra Adachi (I received an advanced copy of this book and I’m loving it)

The Book of Tiny Prayer by Micah Bucey

I’m almost finished with a couple of the above books, and when that happens, I’ll rotate some more in. Next up: Life in Five Senses and Boom Town.

I also do a short scripture study and often write in my journal during this time.

My Book Basket contains a pen pouch full of highlighters, pens and sticky notes/tabs for marking books or scriptures as I read. I love having everything I need in one place. Usually I read in bed and the basket stays on the floor next to my nightstand, but sometimes I move into my favorite reading chair in the living room.

I don’t read from all of these every books every single day. Some days I am able to read a short section of each, but other days I might only read a bit of one book before kids are awake. I try not to focus on the length of time I’m able to spend, instead my goal is just to read something from this basket every day. Those minutes add up over time.

This routine has helped me feel grounded and like I’m still progressing as a person, even during decades(!!) full of the work of raising and homeschooling little people and my work as an artist. My days are full and starting off with a little quiet time to myself each morning sets me off on the right foot.

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On My Desk

I’m heavily into summer market prep season and the project this week has been a batch of floral felt ornaments. I’m making an in depth video on my process as well as a pdf pattern which will be available in the coming weeks.

Working with these cheerful colors of felt brings me such joy. I have a bin full of all the supplies I need and it moves around the house with me throughout the day. You can find us at the kitchen/homeschool table in the morning, in my room during rest time, and on the couch during family movie night.

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Around Here

Reading:

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann This was both dense and fascinating. There are a lot of people and a lot of horrifying occurrences to keep straight. While it’s full of information, I didn’t feel bogged down and it wasn’t at all hard to read. Such a heartbreaking true story.

The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino. This mystery translated from Japanese has a unique set-up and structure. I found it to be just the change of pace I needed this week. It’s well-paced and not at all scary, even for my sensitive soul. Very enjoyable and would make a great beach read. (Note: I just discovered this is book one of a series of five, and has been made into a movie on Netflix called Jaane Jaan)

Watching:

Yesterday my son’s soccer team won the state championship! It was a very intense game and so much fun to watch. You can see the game here if you’re so inclined.

We’re planning to start Frog and Toad on Apple TV for our weekly family pizza and a movie night tonight.

Jason and I are slowly watching Killers of the Flower Moon, but at 3.5 hours that’s quite a commitment for our limited available watching time.

Listening: We’re listening to Alcatraz vs The Evil Librarians lately and the kids beg for it as soon as we get in the car, which is always a good sign that they love it.

Dabbling in: Trying to get back to my daily sketchbook/art journal habit. I still get to it most days, but have been missing quite a few lately.

On YouTube: How to Crochet Hot Pads (an easy beginner crochet project)

In the House/Yard: The garden is almost completely planted! We did have to cover the tomatoes and peppers last night due to a drop in temperature. But the forecast is looking great going forward and hopefully they’ll be out of danger after tonight.

In the Shop: This Anne of Green Gables kit is a customer favorite and perfect for summer.

Here’s to making the time for the things we love to do! What have you been reading/creating this week?

Heidi

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