halloween festivities

:: happy halloween

jack-o-lanterns

:: getting our jack-o-lanterns ready for halloween. my little one designed and helped carve her moon pumpkin and i scooped out all the seeds. we are saving some pumpkin seeds for next year, in hopes to growing some pumpkins. we are still wondering where in our small yard the pumpkin patch will be, but i'm sure we could make it work. the other pumpkin seeds, we'll be eating. no roasting here though, my little one enjoys them raw. we made some quinoa apple muffins and some cinnamon raisin flaxseed muffins. the kitchen smelled wonderful, but i'll need to modify the recipes to suit our taste buds. my little one is really looking forward to dressing up tonight. happy halloween!!

calming

:: made with some air drying clay. maybe when i fire up my kiln, i'll make a few for the shop. oh, the list of projects and ideas that i would like to create with clay has been on hold for years. there is something so relaxing and soothing about working with clay.

indian corn & autumn activities

::  some snapshots of our autumn activities. removing indian corn kernals is the most favorite activity in our house for years now. we sorted the colored kernals and then created some pictures with them. our milkweed pods opened and we saved all the seeds to bring them back to nature. lastly, some natural treasures from a nature walk around the yard and some pictures of ava & zsa zsa's (my mother) day out together to a dinosaur park.

making a jar lantern

:: gather your supplies. all you need is a jar, sequin stars and moons, tissue paper, and decoupage glue. we worked in sections as the glue can dry quickly. paint glue onto the first section of the jar. apply your sequin stars and moons. then cover with tissue paper while the glue is wet, smoothing out any air bubbles.

:: after the jar is covered, you will want to add another layer or two of tissue paper. lightly brush a layer of decoupage glue over each layer of tissue paper.

flying in the winds

:: great winds to put our kite up. a milkweed wand found in the open field. their seeds were packed inside like a pine cone. the soft, fuzzy silk filaments are so lovely to the touch. the seeds were gradually blowing out on our travels back to the car.


Milkweed Fingerplay
In a milkweed cradle all close and warm (cup hands together)
Little seeds are hiding safe from harm (keep hands closed)
Open wide the cradle now, hold it high (open hands, raise them above your head)
Come along wind, help them fly (sway open hands in the air)

pumpkins on a vine

:: do you know that i have never seen pumpkins growing on a vine? hard to believe. my little one found a few of the curly vines while picking out pumpkins. i think it would be wonderful to be able to pick the pumpkins off the vine one day. i am grateful for the wonderful connection she made.




:: leaf collection and rubbings. and identifications (as best we could)




:: ladybugs everywhere. it is amazing the sense of wonder and awe they bring.

another batch of pancakes for dinner

:: pancakes for dinner was very successful last time around. my little one helping to mix the batter and getting together the nutty topping. there was no fussing. everyone eating all the good stuff. whole wheat flour, quinoa meal, and bananas. topped with raw pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds, as well as pure maple syrup.

a walking stick

:: sanding her walking stick. found on one of our nature walks. sanding is done periodically. progress is noticed with a pile of sawdust, which she is more than happy to sweep up. does your little one enjoy helping cleaning up?

yarn activities & ornaments

:: my little one is really enjoying her finger knitting. the yarn is going over so well that i was searching for other activities for her to do. earthways is just a wonderful resource for seasonal activities. the book has some instructions on pom pom balls, yarn dolls and weaving between a V-shaped branch. i also was inquiring about other activities that we could do with yarn over on the mothering boards. there were some great suggestions. here they are:


yarn apples and yarn pumpkins
pom pom balls
yarn dolls
wrapping yarn around a vase
god's eyes
weaving between V-shaped branch
cardboard weaving
5 finger knitting
chain with a crochet hook
luceting
knitting nancy

my search brought me upon homemade yarn ornaments. martha stewart had a few lovely suggestions: pom pom ornaments, yarn snowflake ornaments, yarn tassels ornaments, and a christmas star. By wrapping yarn around a donut shaped cardboard piece, you will make a yarn wreath and if you wrap some cookie cutters with yarn you will get lots of fun shaped ornaments.

Please let me know if you have any other activities or christmas ornaments to share to the list.