We’re in the middle of a big move from west coast to east coast. We’ll be landing in the burbs of Atlanta and starting a brand new adventure. The girls are getting into the ages now where they want to stay put and build some roots, so we’re settling down! Eeekk. I will be starting a brand new Waldorf-inspired preschool/playschool program- so stay tuned for that.
I love hiding little flower babies like these in the garden for the children to find.
Tucked in between the flowers and herbs.
Each one has its own personality.
I might tell a flower story like The Little Yellow Tulip, during story time or snack…
and then secretly place these while I’m ‘tending’ the garden. I don’t say a word
to give away the surprise and when they are found I simple state, ‘huh, look at that.’
Makes me wish I was small enough to sleep in the flowers myself!
These babies can be easily crafted out of a small piece of pipe cleaner stuck to a small wooden ball and then wrapped in a piece of wool roving and needle felted together. Find a cute hat in nature and glue on top. So simple.
I try to keep as many magical elements in the garden as possible. Here are some favorites.
There’s nothing like spending a day in the garden making faerie houses. The older my girls get the more detail their architectural skills are developing. I just love seeing this!
Of course faeries must always be left a little sugar.
I have a matching pair of shoes with each of my daughters. It amazes me that something so simple can bring such joy to the girls and a simple trip running errands becomes a fun little celebration. Not only do we enjoy our little ‘matchingness’ but others also seem to comment on it, which lets them in on our little fun as well.
Now that my oldest is growing into the adult shoe department this is much easier. and…ahem…excuse the horrid nail polish that needs replacing! I know many people have feet and toe issues, but there was just no way to take this photo without the feet… so sorry for those that were traumatized.
We bought these in Germany when my youngest was 7, where mama & daughter finds are much easier to come across than here in the US. Stores like Hanna Anderson often have some cute selections. There is just something that makes the girls feel so special when matching mama. And yes, I am well aware that these years are coming to an end, but I for one, am enjoying them fully while they’re still here.
There is something so magical about whipping up some fresh butter for a meal with children. And I’m always a bit surprised by how many adults I know that do not know you can whip heavy cream into butter. So simple and it can really add to the magic of a meal if whipped up together and then decorated for a meal. The big magic here is that you’re turning a liquid into a solid. And really, no matter how many times I’ve done this I still get a bit of a thrill out of the process and find it extremely satisfying.
I do have a couple of butter churns that I love but they take upwards of 20 minutes of churning! It’s great when there are more adults around and it can be passed from person to person but when we need butter within 5 minutes here’s what I do.
Start with a good heavy cream
I whip with a hand whisk. First you’ll get whipped cream- yum! I always let kids take a ‘one finger lick’ at this point.
I’m always amazed at how quickly it turns from white to yellow. Now we have butter! The milk separates from the fat.
Pour off the milk
You can strain with a piece of cheesecloth if you have it – I usually just use bare hands and that works fine.
Place into a dish and decorate- that’s the fun part. We like to change it seasonally. Here we have mint and roses. In winter it’s fun to use rosemary for a pine look and our red roses always bloom in December. Calendula flowers work great in fall and pansies in spring. I like to keep a variety of edibles planted year round. There are also all sorts of butter press designs you can stamp into your butter, which are like the ones Laura Ingalls Wilder writes about in The Little House series, but I like to keep things simple and my drawers relatively clutter free.
The more imagination that is needed to make a toy be a ‘toy,’ the more magical the object becomes. It is the infusing of the child’s vision that is the part that really transforms play from mundane to creative.
We all know that creative thought is what our kids need to succeed in the future world. Yet, creativity seems to be such a misunderstood concept in today’s world, particularly in the toy department. Gluing foam cut-outs onto a piece of paper is rarely a creative act. Following directions to make something from a kit is not creative. It can be fun, but unless you deviate from the directions, it’s not creative.
The act of creating something is bringing something into form that was not there before. Nothing is more creative than imaginative play. Nothing.
Faeries message requesting a special tea. It comes via a basket attached to a simple pulley and cord purchased from the local hardware store. Faerie tea sometimes is homemade, other times has been those blooming teas, finger foods with flower petals on them…and of course must be sprinkled in faerie dust!
