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Take A Child Outside Week

September 24-30th, 2009 is Take a Child Outside Week.
For ideas and information visit the take a child outside week webpage.
Happy exploring!

Nature Bags

Nature Bag is a mom-run business with the vision to reconnect their families with nature. Each bag contains 20 fun activites to engage children with the natural world! (Picture from naturebag.com)

Children in the Woods

I am happy to say that my son is not suffering from nature-deficit disorder, he learned to walk in the pine forest featured in the photograph above, it's a rare day when we fail to venture outside to learn from the natural world.

In 2004 as a third grade teacher, I proposed that my class make a small garden on the school property... I wish I had pictures to show of my nine year olds eating radish's and lettuce. My love for gardening and nature have carried me through the good times and the bad times growing up. As a geologist, I have tried to understand the Earth and know things about the rock types and history, rocks are our universal foundation. Nature is a foundation for me.

I am so excited about the national movement to engage children with nature. Although it does seem a little bazaar that we need a movement to get children outside. That said; I want to share some helpful webpage links for parents and educators interested new ideas for taking children outside.

Richard Louv , author of Last Child In the Woods, is outlined so beautifully the disconnect from nature that our children are experiencing and the subsequent consequences. His book is a best-seller and a must read.

Countless organizations have jumped on board to sail into a new time, where we can hear children playing in the woods, along streams, through the mountains. Check out what's going on in your neck of the woods!

Children in Nature Collaborative
Children's Nature Institute
Children and Nature Network
GreenHour
No Child Left Inside

Please email me or comment with additional links that you know of specific to your region.

Thanks for reading!

Fly Like A Butterfly

Last week we went searching for caterpillers. We found a few, clipped some milkweed and brought them home to watch the transformation from caterpiller to butterfly.

Here is a picture of our caterpiller friend nibbling on milkweed. When I took this picture, I was unaware that the caterpiller was weaving a silk mat to attach to during the next stage of development: the pupa.

Here is this same caterpiller a few hours later, it has secured itself to the milkweed and become a J shape. It hung here for about a day. The next day, I decided the caterpillers needed some fresh air so, I took the vase of milkweed to the back porch; I was really busy all day but came home to find a pupa (chrysallis). Here are a couple pictures of this beautiful structure.



In Rhode Island, we have a few week window in early September to watch this awesome event. The monarch butterflies begin their migration to Mexico and lay their eggs on the milkweed plants along the roadsides. For the past three years I have tried to "catch" some caterpillers. It's really fun to watch this happening.

More later... the chrysallis will hang there for a week or two as the butterfly forms.

Beyond Coexistance

Each of us contain within us this unique and perfect balance/ centeredness.
Find some moments each day to pause, to reflect.

Here's a moment I experienced the other day, a reminder of the activity of the sun,
and the stillness of the moon. Both are so awesome and dance with each other.

Go beyond coexisting. Sink deeper into the soul.
Dance.
Allow the radiance of activity to shine on the stillness of being.

Peace is every step.
The shining red sun is my heart.
Each flower smiles with me.
How green, how fresh all that grows.
How cool the wind blows.
Peace is every step.

It turns the endless path to joy.

- Tinh Thuy

A September Getaway

Jeremiah loves the beach.

Summer time beach trips here in southern Rhode Island can be very stressful during the tourist season... but now, after "they" have left we get to really enjoy the warm water, cool air, moist sand, awesome sunsets, and as we saw tonight, the full moon over the ocean.

I am very blessed. Many years ago, my grandfather bought a little cottage on one of the salt ponds that lead to the ocean. Since I was a few days old, I have been enjoying the beach by arriving through the ponds in a boat.

Tonight Jeremiah, my father, my step-mom, and I voyaged across the pond, scurried through grasses, and bushes of the sand dunes, finally arriving at the ocean for an evening dinner picnic.

The moment we saw the water, Jeremiah ran full blast into the crashing surf.


The sun set, and the almost-full moon peaked out from behind a gentle veil of clouds. As we drove back across the water, the moon came into full silver randiance, flanked by the cool blues of the night sky while the sun sank deeper beneath the horizon leaving behind the warm daytime hues of yellow, orange, pink and purple.

A splendid evening.

A Night Walk

At 7:30 p.m. this evening, it was twilight, and night time was coming on quickly. These last days of summer go so quickly as the days shorten; just a few weeks ago I was still gardening at 7:30 pm.

Earlier this year I used T.V. as a way to persuade Jeremiah to sit long enough to potty train. But T.V. quickly became a habit before bed, and upon rising in the morning. It was easy to change the morning habit, but the night time T.V. session has taken a little more discipline (mostly on my part) to stay away from it.

These past couple weeks Jeremiah has rarely asked for T.V. and will quickly dismiss my "not now" and run off playing. Tonight I was tired, I so wanted to turn on the tube and let him enjoy; but no, our T.V. has miraculously stopped working! So I needed to come up with some pre-bedtime, wind-down activity.

Ah ha! A night hike! We dressed for the chilly air of a late summer evening, took out the stroller, Jeremiah, in his pajamas, climbed up and off we went! Our neighbors have a big open yard in which we could see the moon. Further down the road, we went to our favorite daytime hiking spot "the waterfall" and looked for stars.

Jeremiah commented "Mom, the moon is coming on a walk with us. There's not enough stars here Mom, let's keep going!"

He loved it and I have this feeling that perhaps taking a walk in the dark will help him appreciate night time more rather then have a little fear of it.

We could see our breath, and heard tons of animals in the forest and the swamp. It's a little cloudy, and we need to go out a little later for better viewing, but I think he is fascinated with the night sky.

As the summer wanes, and it's darker earlier, take the family on a night hike, or out the back door to gaze at the stars and feel the immensity of the Universe. Breath in the cool night air, pause; close your eyes, listen deeply to the sounds of nature.

As we spend more time outside at night, we will become more comfortable with whatever feelings come up. Breath deeply. Hold hands. Grow faith.

Turning off the T.V. and taking a break outside tonight gave me exactly what I needed; a break from the ordinary, a spontaneous moment of joy, connectedness, appreciation and faith.

I feel rejuvenated!

Waffles for Breakfast

Today, my dearly beloved son wanted waffles for breakfast.

So, I rediscovered one of my favorite recipes in Joy of Cooking and together we made fresh home baked waffles using my mother's heart-shaped waffled iron.

Here's the recipe:

Sift together:
1 3/4 cups cake flour (substitute whole grains for part if you like)
2 teaspoons double acting baking powder
1/2 cup salt
1 tablespoon sugar (can omit or add less)

In a separate bowl beat:
3 egg yolks (save egg white for later)
Add:
4 tablespoons melted butter
1 1/2 cups milk (I usually use cow milk, but try it with other milk)

Add liquid ingredients into flour mixture by forming a hole in the center and pouring in the liquid. With a few quick strokes, combine the liquid with the flour to make a batter with the texture of muffin batter.

Optional:
Add about a handful of fruit or berries, cheese, ham, nuts.

Beat until peaks form, but not too dry:
3 egg white

Fold the egg whites into the waffle batter.

Cook and serve!

I highly suggest using a little butter and some local maple syrup (unless, of course, you choose to make savory waffles).
Garnish with blueberries, strawberries, peaches, apple sauce- whatever floats your boat!

Enjoy!

Perhaps you have the opportunity to cook with your children, have them help! Jeremiah is "the stirrer" and has his own special spatula. We always remember to put on our "helper hats" and I usually have his 2 1/2 year old attention for long enough to cook.

This morning he helped separate the eggs (fresh from our chickens)!! He ate about 6 small waffles this morning; I feel confident that we will have a good day as his body is filled with healthy food; more importantly, his heart is filled with love and sweet attention from his mamma. It's special to be a mom-son team in the kitchen. I look forward to the next morning he has some special breakfast he wants.... we'll see what new adventure we have together.

Welcome

Welcome.

As I wake up each morning, my thoughts are turned to the sounds and songs of the birds dancing in the trees outside my window. My eyes turn to see the sunlight and the signs of a new day. I am overjoyed to see my son or my husband next to me sleeping; to watch the rise and fall of their bellies as they breath deeply, completely relaxed. I keep my thoughts here and now; knowing there are many "things" for me to do today.

Practicing being; my morning meditation reminds me that "being" takes practice and focus. At one time, this morning meditation might have been much more about "doing"- making a specific prayer, holding myself a certain way or invoking peace and stillness.

This blog is about practicing being a writer, a mother, a sister, a daughter of the Universe. Right here, in the center, where the Green Earth and Blue Sky meet; this is where life is happening.

Thanks for reading.