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Pepper and Pine

All things food, paper and education

Month: July 2016

Exploring the Queen Mary

Exploring the Queen Mary

Posted on July 30, 2016August 20, 2016 by Hana
As part of their 80th anniversary, the Queen Mary opened its doors to the public for free tours, short films and general exploration of this majestic permanently docked liner. The ship boasts breathta... Read More
Exploring Nature With Kids | Santa Rosa Ecological Reserve

Exploring Nature With Kids | Santa Rosa Ecological Reserve

Posted on July 26, 2016 by Hana
Join us as we explore the beautiful Santa Ana mountains in search of the seasonal vernal pools. Being in our fourth year of drought, the vernal pools haven’t had water in them for years, but don... Read More
Mini Doll with Blue Hair! | DIY Tutorial

Mini Doll with Blue Hair! | DIY Tutorial

Posted on July 24, 2016July 26, 2016 by Hana
“Blue hair,” said my four-year-old daughter, “that’s what I want.” So I made her a finger puppet with blue hair just as she requested. Her friend had asked me to make one... Read More
Petrified Forest | Nature Unit

Petrified Forest | Nature Unit

Posted on July 22, 2016July 22, 2016 by Hana
Petrified wood contains no organic matter; each cell has been replaced with minerals making it a rock! But you’ve not seen a rock like this before. Every detail of the living tree is intact down... Read More
What’s in a Nature Bag? | Nature Unit

What’s in a Nature Bag? | Nature Unit

Posted on July 20, 2016 by Hana
For our Nature Unit, we spent a lot of time at a local regional park. In an attempt to make the best use of our time, I packed a backpack with some ‘educational’ material we could use to i... Read More
How to Cover Any Box | Upcycle Tutorial

How to Cover Any Box | Upcycle Tutorial

Posted on July 17, 2016July 20, 2016 by Hana
Upcycle any box! Make sure it’s well made and sturdy. All you’ll need for this project is lokta paper, spray adhesive, scissors (I prefer non-stick scissors), label pulls, and metal brads.... Read More
How to Make Paper | Nature Unit

How to Make Paper | Nature Unit

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Hana
We love making things! This paper making kit from Acorn Naturalists comes with everything you need to make homemade paper (except the paper scraps). The DVD and paper directions were easy to follow. W... Read More
How to Make a Boy Finger Puppet | Tutorial

How to Make a Boy Finger Puppet | Tutorial

Posted on July 11, 2016July 14, 2016 by Hana
Pulling out another video from the Pepper and Pine vault! This one’s from December 19, 2015! Yikes! But don’t worry we are getting through these old tutorials so I can bring you new ones!!... Read More
Giveaway WINNER!!! | Seeing Double

Giveaway WINNER!!! | Seeing Double

Posted on July 8, 2016July 14, 2016 by Hana
Hello everyone! I have a special guest today…my sister! She’s here to help me announce the winner from June’s give away! In honor of her being here, we’re going to give away TW... Read More
Ardenwood Farm | Field Trip

Ardenwood Farm | Field Trip

Posted on July 7, 2016July 14, 2016 by Hana
We visited the historic Ardenwoods Farms in northern California in March of 2016. Share This:... Read More
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Hello! I live in California & I homeschool using a Waldorf curriculum. www.pepperandpine.com

Hana
My sister asked us here to celebrate. To celebrate My sister asked us here to celebrate. To celebrate her decision to move from California to Alaska, to celebrate the majesty of this winter masterpiece, to celebrate her first home and the celebrate her. We think we are here for her, and yet we have gained far more from this experience. 
We have healed as a family. Still we have a long way to go. We have truly enjoyed our time and ourselves and are awed by the beauty an Alaskan winter. We have discovered new joys, new skills and a renewed love of nature. 
The short days are restorative. 
The cold weather is purifying. 
And the pristine mornings spiritually moving. 
We have smiled, hugged and shed tears. 
We have bonded, shared and argued. 
We are a family. 
And we have come together to support my sister and in doing so, we have grown in unmeasurable ways. 
The challenge of getting here has melted away, and we are simply enjoying being totally present. 
SubhanaAllah, my sister’s dua are manifesting in unimaginable ways. Her prayers are coming true. And we are reaping the benefits. Alhumdulillah ❤️
It’s was the best hug I ever had❤️ ❤️❤ It’s was the best hug I ever had❤️ ❤️❤️
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The doorbell rang. I was flipping tortillas and making soup. I popped my head around the corner and saw them arrive. But my sister was by the door and I couldn’t see her. I literally had butterflies in my stomach. But my tortillas were overcooking so I ducked back into the kitchen and flipped them and added more to the pan. Then I came around the corner again and there she was. In her adorable knitted hat. 
I walked up to her and we hugged. It was the best hug ever. Warm, snug and long. And then the tears came. And still we hugged. Then we pulled away and looked at each other through blurry wet eyes. We just couldn’t believe we were together. All of us together. We just looked at each other with happy and sad tears. 
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We saw a moose. Our trip is now complete 🤩 Ac We saw a moose. 
Our trip is now complete 🤩 
Actually we saw two. Apparently they munch on the trees in the hotel parking lot and are regulars there. They were blocking our path so we waiting. We had decided to walk to the car rental place which was only a mile away but the moose had other plans. While taking an inordinate number of selfies with the moose we turned to see our shuttle exiting the parking lot. We waved him down and he took us to the car rental place. What a spectacular way to start our Alaskan adventure. And we haven’t even gotten to my sister’s yet!
We were very careful and kept our distance.
Hello from the California mountains. It’s like a Hello from the California mountains. It’s like a practice run for our trip Alaska this Friday. Well not really as the temperatures were so pleasant we were quite warm by the time we left. 
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I’m headed Alaska to visit my sister Samiah before she begins treatment for her brain tumor. We have struggled over choosing the right time to go and while we will undoubtedly make more trips over the course of her treatment we also decided to experience winter with her. 
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My sister wants us to behold the beauty of an Alaskan winter. The soft dark blue sky with towering snow covered pines dotting the horizon and Mount Denali in the distance...
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The clear cold air, the quiet, the snow and the fresh well water. Her little cozy cabin is nestled in the great wilderness, and for her it not only feels like home, it feels like she’s coming home. As if this place has been calling her and she’s only just heard her name. I want to share her joy with her. I want to see the things she has loves, the twilight mornings, her sunroom, the brightness of the snow when the sun shines upon it, but most of all I want to see her. I miss her. And I know she misses us too. 
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I’m excited and anxious. InshaAllah I’ll keep posted as we make our way into the big vast wilderness that is Alaska. 
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#mom #muslimmom #muslim #americanmuslim #muslimhomeschool 
#hijab
This year has given me some of my highest highs & This year has given me some of my highest highs & lowest lows of my life. Since some of those moments aren’t public yet, I can only share two pivotal moments tha you have experienced with me. 
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But first let me take you back to the beginning of this year. 
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I was absent from social media  having spontaneous left in December after deleting my apps. I have struggled with what it means to share publicly as Muslim woman who wears hijab.  While I sorted through my thoughts on this & other things I found challenging about social media, I took a break. 
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I didn’t feel good about it. I like being here. Sharing our homeschool journey is a blessing and a gift for me as much as it is for those who benefit from it. 
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Then in March the world changed. And that change persisted and there just didn’t seem like a right place to come back.
So I waited.
And waited.
Finally I posted my first post of 2020 in May. You responded with so much love and support, I was truly moved ❤️
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Two months later you supported me when I launched my first curriculum Alhumdulillah. The response once again was overwhelmingly positive. I know many of you bought my curriculum for nothing more than to support me and I was truly touched by your gesture. 
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And then you did it again and again ❤️
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Meanwhile, as my new venture was taking off, my sister, Samiah’s business of 20 years was collapsing. The venues she relied on to sell her amazing clothing were closed. The financial struggle was crushing and they chose to make a drastic life change. They uprooted their family in Southern California and left for Alaska. 
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The second worst call of my life came just days before my 45th birthday (and almost exactly 10 years after the worse call of my life). My sister Samiah shared shattering news with us. She had a brain tumor & surgery was set immediately. 
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Surgery was a success Alhumdulillah. And each day of recovery & healing was a deep & profound blessing. We were still processing that trauma when we found out that the tumor was a very aggressive, fast growing cancer. I’m still in the throes of that grief while simultaneously trying to figure how best to support my sister and stay positive. 
#muslim #top9
May she have many healthy summers ahead of her, am May she have many healthy summers ahead of her, ameen. All sales are being donated to my sister’s cancer fund until January 5th and right now, everything in my shop is on sale plus use coupon code SHOP25 for an extra 25% off even sale prices!
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Link in bio. Or head to My website at Pepper and Pine. 
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Thank you so much for all your love, support, dua and prayers. We have been touched by your generosity, your love, your care and your thoughtfulness as you check in with us on how she is doing. 
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Truly this has been a blessing of unmeasurable goodness. We remain hopeful Alhumdulillah. 
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#homeschooling #muslimhomeschool #muslimfamily #cancer #americanmuslim
Yesterday was a good day, Alhumdulillah. My sister Yesterday was a good day, Alhumdulillah. My sister, Samiah, called just as my mom, Aurelia and Anna walked through the door ready for tea and plenty of knitting. I gestured to them that I was on the phone with Samiah. My children welcomed them in and got them breakfast while I talked with Samiah. 
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Then I said, “well I have to go. Mom is here and we’re knitting.” And she said, “no wait!! That’s why I called, I’m crashing your knitting party!” 😂 So we continued our conversation via FaceTime and she knitted and drank tea with us. It was the best! I loved it. 
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We also made lip balm and started some natural dye for yarn. Everyone left with some orange scented lip balm and having made progress with their knitting projects. It was a wholesome day and I loved it Alhumdulillah ❤️
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#sisters #knitting #winter #cozy #family #muslim #americanmuslim #homeschooling #muslimhomeschool #muslimhomeschooling #muslimfamily #cancer #glioblastoma #allahuakbar #alhumdulillah #subhanallah
My sister is full of positivity. She is my guide o My sister is full of positivity. She is my guide on how to feel during this time. We travel through the ups and downs and at the end we remain steadfast and hopeful. 
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We have much to be grateful for and so we will strive towards healing. With your love and positive support we can achieve this InshaAllah. 
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I have been sharing your prayers and well wishes to my sister and have only gotten through a fraction of them from the first post I made a couple weeks ago. She wants me to respond to each of you because each of your prayers and thoughts means so much to her. She began dictating the responses but I couldn’t get to everyone and that was only the private messages. So know that even if you haven’t gotten a reply yet, that’s on me and you’ll get one InshaAllah ❤️❤️❤️
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I aim to fill my conversations with my sister with your uplifting thoughts. While I struggle to get in the space of positivity, I hope you’ll help me with your words so I can be filled with hope and so that I may pass that on to my sister 🙏
She asked me to wait until after the holidays to s She asked me to wait until after the holidays to share this news.  My sister, Samiah (on the left), had brain surgery about 2 weeks ago to remove a sizable tumor. She’s been suffering with symptoms for about a month or two & the diagnosis was a shock. 
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There was no time to biopsy the tumor, the surgery was immediately scheduled for a couple days later. Our family was reeling with the news. But Alhumdulillah the surgery was a success & there was no long term damage caused by the surgery except some diminished vision. 
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Each day of her recovery was a beautiful blessing. She was energetic just hours after surgery, then she experienced a few troubling days of fatigue. Then she was discharged from the hospital.
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The day she had her doctor’s appointment to have her staples removed & discuss the protocol, she had to drive 2 hours to get to the hospital in Anchorage. 
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That evening my sister-in-law, Anna, shared that she had had a long conversation with Samiah that morning & Samiah had asked that no one call her for three day. She’d  be sleeping. Then Anna shared the news we all were dreading to hear...
Samiah has a very aggressive, fast growing tumor. 
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But here’s the thing.
Samiah is even more positive than before.
You can read what she has to say.
Link in my bio.
The blog post titled My Sister, Samiah is on my website at Pepper and Pine.
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