Morning Light

THIS WEEK
a glimpse of light

Dramatic thunder and lightening storms have brought a close to the afternoons this week, with loud startling bursts of thunder, sharp flashes of lightening and torrential rainfall that is flooding the garden and the roads. My furry boy has been glued to my side. He is no lover of the loud sound bursts.

Just at this time of year when I want to throw open all the doors and windows, fire up the grill, cook and eat outside and spend the afternoon curled up in the shade with a book, I find myself seeking shelter, making sure the hens are protected and settling for indoor meals.

The following morning, with the rising sun, I scout out the grounds, looking for a dry spot for the hens, one that provides some sun, some shade and some cover, yet won't  flood. I've been wondering what will become of the garden, will it drain or will it continue to flood. Do we build more raised beds?

The grass is tall, gently swaying with the breeze.

This morning, on the path between house and hen and garden beds, as I was happily drinking up the fleeting sunlight, I paused to take a few snapshots of sunlight bathed flowers.

 Coming soon is the sea of bee balm blossoms.

Waving goodbye until next year are the wood anemones, once a sea of cheerful blossoms, now a swath of greenery.

Shine on!

What's happening in your garden?

27 :: April

THIS MORNING

a cup of coffee

my fellow early riser

a walk in the garden

oh the sunshine!

   

breakfast makes for happy hens

first of the season

HAPPY SATURDAY!

How to Clean Beeswax Crayons

Beeswax crayons are such a pleasure to use, they make such beautiful colors and beautiful drawings. They are easy to use, feel good in the hand, and respond to our warmth by giving us more of their color. They last a very long time too.

Over time they get broken, bitten and chipped, and with use they get scuffed up from rubbing against the colors of the other crayons.

What to do to bring them back to their majestic purity of color?

The answer is simple and can be meditative.

• First, I gather my beeswax crayons
• Then I take out an old bed sheet or towel from the ragbag
• Then I tear off a corner of the cloth to make a cleaning cloth about the size of a lunch napkin

I use oil for cleaning beeswax crayons; it dissolves the crayon markings the get rubbed into the other color crayons. I was taught to use Citrasolve and over the years have tried lavender essential oil and even olive oil. I imagine coconut oil works too. Any oil. Citrasolve probably works the fastest, yet is probably the harshest. 

Put some oil on the cloth and rub away. The crayons will come clean.

In the end, you have clean crayons to color with and beautiful colors on the cleaning rag.

This month we are contemplating the experience of color in our lives and doing some grown up coloring with beeswax crayons over on Celebrate the Rhythm of LIfe through the Year, my interactive curriculum program that supports parents, teachers and childcare providers to awaken to the rhythms in daily, weekly and seasonal life through beauty, imagination and wonder.

I've also been doing Homeschool Consulting and now officially offer that as a Service.

Happy Weekend friends, what's on your slate for this weekend?

{this moment}

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. a photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Joining Amanda over at SouleMama

Happy Weekending!

{this moment}

(this moment)

Joining Amanda over at SouleMama

Happy Weekending!

{this moment}

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. a photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

along with Soulemama

Winter Play on Mother Nature's Playground

The world is a playground. Note the senses involved in this play:

• Touch 
• Life
• Self Movement 
• Balance
• Warmth
• Sight
• Smell
• Hearing

and the toys are free!

What does Mother Nature's playground look like where you live?

Leave a link to a picture/blog post on Mother Nature's Playground in the Comments below.

How We Talk to Our Children

Everyday we talk. We wake up and speak. We talk to the dog, the cat, our partners and our children all through the day. Yet how often do we sit back and really reflect on the language we use? Speaking is one of those things we do that takes on its own habits and practices.

How often do we hear the voice of our mother or father or even grandparent come out when we speak?

The use of language is one characteristic that distinguishes human beings from animals. Yet sometimes, too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing. Our culture places heavy emphasis on the printed word with a push towards early reading  and often we find ourselves bombarded with words via screens and speakers in waiting rooms, airports, airplanes, bars, banks, restaurants and shops. The screen is everywhere blasting news and information at us and our children when they are out and about in these places.

We can protect children from this onslaught of media by carefully deciding where and when we take them out. We can provide diversions from the screens in waiting rooms by bringing a book or being prepared with a little verse and a finger puppet in the pocket.

We can examine the language we use when we speak to children. What are we trying to convey and can we find simpler, more creative and perhaps more effective ways of expressing it?

Do you wonder how it is that Waldorf kindergarten and nursery teachers get children to come and go with so little talking?

This month in my Celebrate the Rhythm of Life in March E-Course Program, we'll take a look and listen to the way we speak to the children in our lives. What are the words we use? Do we want to keep using them? We'll wonder together and explore ways of communicating with children that are simple and effective and energizing for child and adult alike.

In addition to the focus topic aspect, Celebrate the Rhythm of Life in March includes support materials and conversation dedicated to supporting you in bringing harmony, rhythm and balance to daily life. Materials include a Daily Rhythm Guide, Weekly Rhythm Support, Material to support seasonal celebration though verse stories, recipes, song, crafts, handwork, puppetry and best of all a community of others who are journeying on this path.

$45

Sign Up Here 

{this moment}

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. a photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Along with SouleMama

{this moment}

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. a photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Joining in with Amanda over at SouleMama

Reflections from My Kitchen

Morning time is Mama Time in my kitchen. I love to savor a cup of coffee amidst the quiet and solitude of a house full of sleepers. The chocolate is not all for me, it's on its way to our boy's expedition group along with some healthier foods that are in the works in my new, well you'll see, my new food preparation device that I'll try to photograph for you. It's something I have considered for a long time. 

Are mornings your quiet time?

Morning Splendor

 I used to be such a night owl, a boiled-in-the-wool night bird. 

I was the kind of night bird who'd stay up late, devouring novels, writing, drawing and painting, working on collage and other creative projects in my solitude, happy as can be, occasionally going out to hear bands of friends, everyone was in a band back then it seemed, or to dinner or a movie.

Then I became a mother. And it all changed. It was during my pregnancy that the night bird flew away. I'd fall asleep after dinner on the sofa, wishing for cake and unable to make it through an episode of The Simpsons. (This was a long time ago, in 1994 to be precise.) Melrose Place followed Beverly Hills 90210 in those days.

With motherhood came a new appreciation for the morning. Mornings became my time, my moments of solitude. My babies slept well. They must have had some keen survival instinct in knowing that I was not happy when woken from my sleep. I somehow managed to nurse in the night without ever coming to a full state of awakening. You know that feeling? 

My children have grown and still sleep well through the night. They are sometimes reluctant to go to bed and will sleep into the morning when there is no need to rise.

I never returned to the life of the nightbird. I am ready for bed shortly after nightfall and prefer a good book to a movie. I continue to savor the solitude of my mornings. This morning's splendor was too glorious not to share with you. When I looked out the window the sky to the south and easy was painted with these vibrant colors. I made no adjustments to the camera or photo, this is just how they came out.

 and below....

How was your morning?