Blue’s Clues was before my kids, but we saw reruns and Lily was hooked! It was a great show and...
Our china hutch used to hold dishes.
Now it holds Yahtzee, watercolors, three half-finished puzzles, a stack of library books, a tin of colored pencils, and whatever the kids dragged in last week.
We’re the Rodens — a midwest family that decided the screens were winning. So we cleared out the china, opened the doors, and started filling the hutch with things that made us look up. This site is where we share what we’re making, cooking, playing, and reading. None of it is perfect. All of it is ours. We hope it gives you a reason to put the phone down.
This Month's Project:
Using natural materials to Tie Dye Shirts
A perfect July project for all ages — transform old white t-shirts, tote bags, and pillowcases using natural dyes made from turmeric, red cabbage, avocado skins, and fresh berries. Outdoors, messy, memorable.
Let's Tye One On!What are you in the mood for?
Check out some of the things we've tried over the past couple years ...
Make
Crafts, art, projects we've done, usually from things you'd otherwise toss.
Play
Board games, family activities, fun that needs no battery. Well, some things need batteries.
Cook
Recipes, baking, food from scratch — even when scratch is messy.
Read
Board games, family activities, fun that needs no battery. Well, some things need batteries.
Latest stories from our hutch
Easter, but relaxing!
The world around us is getting very dark. It feels like we are always on the brink of disaster …...
The Magic of Vinyl
Recently I bought a little Victrola record player, and now my greatest new hobby is to go around and find...
Mustang Christmas Gift
I just finished this drawing for a girl that ordered one as a present for her dad. It was cool...
A first day like no other
Our youngest will be starting at a new school for 6th grade. She has friends from church in her class...
(Not all) Drugs are bad
I think the D.A.R.E. program in the 80s, 90s, and probably through today are destroying mental health. I will stand...
Made by hand, not algorithm.
One email. Once a week.
A recipe, a project, a record we love, a reason to step away from the feed. No spam, no algorithm, no doomscrolling.
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