Have skipped around the book as it's now fall when I received it, and have enjoyed the essays from "Mama" and "Papa." Some nice writing. Her husband writes well. So far, many of the "projects" are pretty normal and I'd say are secondary in this book. I think the overall book is about the essays, thinking of the cycles in families and the natural world we love in (like the title says). I can appreciate their decision to essentially step away from the type of life many of us lead, but I don't think many of us can honestly devote days to preserving tomatoes on top of everything else. Her job is to be exactly what she is. Sadly, that's not my job. My life is much more ordinary and typical of living in suburbia. But I do appreciate the book, it's message, the photos and the fact it makes me CONSIDER how we can choose a path more geared toward our family and our home.